COEUR d'ALENE - A decade ago, Penny Friedlander was presented with an opportunity to become a magistrate judge in Kootenai County.

At the time she had a private practice which specialized in representing children in what she called high-conflict divorce cases. But the notion of becoming a judge, of getting a chance to try to make an impact in the community, was one she said she couldn't pass up.

"It was an opportunity to bring everything you are to the position," Friedlander said. "Your experience as mother, wife, daughter, teacher and lawyer is all brought together. You use everything."

Friedlander, who was born and raised in western Washington and moved to North Idaho in 1974, said that as a magistrate judge she was able to be involved with the one area of the justice system that most people come in contact with.

"We really are that point that intersects with most of our community," Friedlander said. "It really appealed to me. It's very challenging and I love the intersection between the theory of law, the law itself and the policy and the people."

In September, Friedlander retired from her position as a magistrate judge. Before retiring she played an instrumental role in launching Kootenai County's Domestic Violence Court, which she said uses the best practices and methods available to tackle a difficult problem.

"It's a great testament to her," said Judge Clark Peterson, who has taken over the court since Friedlander's retirement. "Where one could easily have wound down, she started a specialized court that been phenomenally effective."

Friedlander still serves when needed in the capacity of a senior magistrate judge for the Kootenai County District Court.

Over the course of your career as a judge, and even prior to that, it seems like the work you did would undoubtedly be stressful and that the gravity of the decisions you had to make would weigh heavily on you. Is it hard not to take that stress and that weight home with you every night? How do you kind of take off the robe so to speak and just distance yourself from that?

It depends on your personality. I think some people can decide and move on. I admire that and would like to carry a little more of that with me.

I worry about my decisions when they are difficult. Which is not on a daily basis; it comes and goes.

What has the experience of starting the Domestic Violence Court been like for you? Tell me a little bit about that personal journey.

It's been challenging and exciting. I've had such an incredibly professional team that has functioned so well and that is such a pleasure. You don't see that every day.

I'm energized by the fact that we did start it and I believe it is succeeding. But I think it's important that we keep moving it forward.

Do you think this specialized court is making a difference in the community?

I do, but I can only say that anecdotally, not statistically. The reason I say that is because of the feedback I receive solely in court from the participants themselves. I can be inspired by the defendants who sit and say, "Judge I didn't want to do this in the beginning, you ordered me to go to these classes, but my family is doing well," and we are receiving these great progress reports. That keeps me going.

I can't begin to say that every case is a success; there are failures in terms of rehabilitation. But I think it's just the feedback the court receives that means a lot.

What's something that most people wouldn't think is a part of being a judge?

That it's a very humbling experience and that the workload is very significant.

What do you do to unwind?

Enjoying my dogs and being outdoors.

Other than serving as a senior judge, what else do you plan on doing with your retirement?

This is so new. Right now I am enjoying the moments of space that I have to make those choices. I can't imagine anything to be boring ever.

I'm not sure what my map looks like further out. I feel like I need a good six months or so to not be overly organized and structured.

It can be a nice afternoon and I can walk Tubbs Hill. Or it will be great to have friends over for dinner and have time to prepare it. My pleasures are pretty simple right now and they mean a lot to me.