After 26 years of service, Dearborn Circuit Court Bailiff Bonnie Cunningham retired Friday, Feb. 15.

It was her 66th birthday.
Friends, judges, coworkers, attorneys, police officers and others crowded the judge’s office to wish her well, and tell her how

much she will be missed.

Circuit Court Judge James D. Humphrey stood by, telling stories about her tenure as bailiff.

He particularly mentioned one jury trial that lasted 40 days, and in which the jury was sequestered, which means they had to stay at a hotel every night, and part of Bonnie’s job was to stay with them.

They became so attached to her that after the trial ended, they got together and presented her with a crystal engraved with the  words  “From Your 14 Friends.”  Juries often include two extra people as alternates.