Small Town News

Former judge cant wait to live in Sedona year-round

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Brad Andrews and his wife, Deborah, are in transition to make their home in Sedona. They've built a house and live here part-time, but cannot wait until it is a permanent move.

They built their home last year and Brad Andrews has been living in it since fall 2008 after he retired as a superior court judge in Long Beach, Calif.

Although he is living in Sedona awaiting his wife's retirement, Andrews travels back to Long Beach to sit on the bench and hear cases when he receives an occasion appointment. Deborah Andrews is also a judge.

"When our house sells and Deborah retires, we'll both be here permanently," Andrews said. "We subscribe to the Red Rock News and have it mailed to California so my wife can keep up on the news here."

While in Sedona, Andrews doesn't sit much. He has a horse and loves to go out riding in the forest with a group of friends who have horses. Andrews plays tennis with neighbors and friends. He also golfs and hikes, especially when Deborah is along.

"In golf, I don't have an established handicap. I usually shoot in the high 70s or low 80s," Andrews said.

Plus, along with the house, Andrews built a wood shop. He has made many of the fixtures for the house and said his project for the day, Wednesday, July 7, was to go home and finish off some cabinets.

"I had to retire. I'm too busy to work," Andrews said and laughed. "I tell my friends, 'Don't think about retiring until your fun activities get in the way of working, or vice versa.'"

Deborah Andrews hikes often with a group of her friends here in Sedona, and Brad Andrews said he tags along.

"I don't like hiking as much as I like riding my horse. He's a paint, mostly white with brown and black spots and tail. His name is Tonto, which, I'm told, in Spanish means 'stupid.' He's not at all stupid," Andrews said.

Andrews has been retired for 21/2 years and became a judge after he was a Long Beach police officer for 14 years. He decided to enroll in law school and attended classes while serving as an officer. When he decided to become a lawyer, Deborah Andrews made the same decision. The two attended classes together, studied together, graduated together, passed the bar together and opened an office together.

"When I became a judge, Deborah said she wanted to be one too," Andrews said. "I was a criminal judge and Deborah handles dependency cases. She has more than 1,100 kids under her supervision."

Since the Andrewses have done so much together, it might be natural to think they were high school sweethearts but Brad Andrews said that was not the case.

"I met her when I was a security guard at the local Sears store," he said and grinned. "That shows you Sears has everything."

How 'At Random' Works

Through experience, feature writers learn every person has a story. To prove it, each week the Sedona Red Rock News feature writer hits the streets in and around Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek to intercept unsuspecting members of the public as they go about their daily business. With brief introductions and the chance to flee, the interview begins with the fated question, "If your story was in the newspaper, what would it be?"

Lu Stitt can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122, or e-mail lu@larsonnewspapers.com



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© 2011 Sedona Red Rock News Sedona, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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