Judge Steven D. Merryday: The Toughest Judge in America

Most judges are easy on criminals, but Judge Steven D. Merryday, who has served as a judge in North Carolina’s Mecklenburg County since 1982, is one of the toughest judges in America – and he’s not afraid to admit it!

Judge Merryday’s reputation precedes him, which was what led to his nickname Hard Times Harry. His no-nonsense approach to sentencing inspires both awe and fear in those who meet him and perhaps even in those who don’t! You can read more about Judge Steven D.

Interview with his wife

Mrs. Merryday, what is the most important quality that your husband possesses?

A judge is just an honest man, plain and simple. She responded with a soft smile tugging at her lips. He doesn’t try to be more than he is and he always tries to do the right thing.

Brief background of the judge

The judge is the head of the Environmental Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and was first appointed to that position by President George W. Bush in 2001, with a tenure spanning nearly 18 years so far as noted on his bio page on their website

He has secured hundreds of criminal convictions for environmental crimes including those related to endangered wildlife, oil spills, and many other ecological disasters.

In December 2010, then-Attorney General Eric Holder elevated him to Deputy Assistant Attorney General overseeing all US Department of Justice matters relating to the environment and natural resources enforcement

During his time there he led the prosecutions stemming from Deepwater Horizon and more recently prosecuted Entergy Arkansas after they had significant operational problems at an Arkansas power plant following Hurricane Isaac

, leading to the uncontrolled release of arsenic and radioactive tritium into nearby waterways. To conclude, Judge Merryday serves as a strong advocate for environmental safety and stands up against environmentally destructive activities.

Is he as tough as everyone says?

The first and most telling quality that is attributed to Judge Merryday is his toughness, but how tough is he? As an observer of the courts for over 20 years, I know the answer to this question.

I have seen some judges who treated people like a prize pig at a county fair or worse like some type of mongrel on death row hoping for his/her execution day. Some judges operate as if they are a law unto themselves where it doesn’t matter what you say, only what they say goes even if it is contrary to sound legal reasoning or the law itself!

Details on how he runs his courtroom

Steven David Merryday, also known as The Toughest Judge in America by CNN, was born on July 29th, 1949, and raised by his grandparents. After being expelled from high school for fighting with a friend,

he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for four years as a member of a military intelligence unit during the Vietnam War.

Evaluation by his peers

This guy is not here to play games and he has the reputation to back it up, says one attorney. He’s considered the toughest judge in America. Judge Merryday leads a strict courtroom where there is no room for error and defendants are expected to follow his rules or face serious consequences.

I’ve had guys on death row, gang members, major felons – they tremble with fear when they go into that courtroom, says one inmate who was incarcerated for armed robbery and now works as a defense lawyer himself.

Judge Merryday has earned a reputation as one of America’s toughest judges, but behind his tough exterior, he is one of its most compassionate, explains a former law school classmate.

While on some level he can seem intimidating at first, you quickly see that there is more to him than meets the eye and that he truly cares about people and their well-being.

Overall thoughts and summary

Steven D. Merryday has been judging for over three decades, and he continues to preside over cases. His reputation for being tough and stubborn toward those who come before him has led him to earn the nickname The Toughest Judge in America.

You might be thinking about these comments as a testament to his success as a judge, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

His legacy is not one of a strong and successful jurist, but rather of an intolerable bully that many people want to see removed from the bench so they can live their lives in peace.

Steven’s style has changed dramatically over time.

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