Retired Circuit Judge Robert Helfrich of Hattiesburg died on March 31 at Forrest General Hospital. He was 72.
Helfrich served as Circuit Judge for the 12th Circuit District, which includes Forrest and Perry counties, for more than 22 years. After his official retirement on June 30, 2025, he continued to work without salary, presiding over the drug intervention court that he established shortly after taking office in 2003.
“He just really made a difference in the judicial system there, and he will be missed,” said retired Circuit Judge Jon Mark Weathers, who served alongside Helfrich for more than eight years.
Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph said, “Judge Robert ‘Bob’ Helfrich had a distinguished and lengthy career in the Hattiesburg area. He developed a deep commitment to drug courts, and the former participants held him in the highest regard. He was inspired by the Honorable Keith Starrett of the United States Southern District Court. Judge Helfrich followed his guidance and support. He went on to lead one of the most respected drug courts in the state. Judge Helfrich was appointed multiple times by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi to serve on the State Intervention Court Advisory Council, and he assisted and counseled all of the state’s trial judges.”
Helfrich’s career included reopening civil rights era cases as an assistant district attorney for racially motivated crimes from that period. In particular, he led prosecution efforts against Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard Samuel Bowers for ordering Vernon F. Dahmer Sr.’s death in a firebombing attack in 1966.
Attorney Pat Zachary described him as fearless: “Bob was not afraid of anything. He would go back and try old civil rights cases that needed to be tried. He was straight up and brave about it.” Circuit Judge Wes Curry also recalled being proud when justice was sought for Dahmer’s family: “He was a primary force in that case… To get to work with him and learn from him was very humbling.”
In another notable decision as judge in May 2006, Helfrich exonerated Clyde Kennard—convicted decades earlier while trying to enroll at then all-white Mississippi Southern College—declaring Kennard innocent after new evidence came forward.
Weathers said about this action: “He just did the right thing and wasn’t worried about consequences.”
Helfrich became known statewide for leadership with drug intervention courts—creating separate tracks within his court for veterans or DUI offenders—and serving on both state advisory councils and national boards related to such programs.
Judge Keith Starrett explained how Helfrich sought out advice before launching his own program: “He came over and asked me to help him understand about drug court… He saw what I was doing…and wanted to do it.” As board members together later on All Rise (formerly NADCP), they worked nationally sharing best practices developed locally by Helfrich—including organizing sports teams among participants as part of recovery support efforts.
Reflecting further impact beyond legal circles, colleagues remembered former intervention court participants crediting their survival or recovery directly to Helfrich’s persistence or compassion—even when others thought they could not be helped.
Zachary recounted introducing him at an award ceremony by comparing his tough demeanor with kindness beneath: “At the end I compared him to a Tootsie Pop…inside he was one of warmest people…for underdog.” The judge also brought dogs into courtrooms during proceedings—a practice remembered fondly by those who worked alongside him.