Former Judge McMaken Made Mobile Better

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) Fifteen years ago, a woman, an admitted drug user, was given another chance at life. "This is my last chance for freedom," she said, in an interview, "to be out! This is my last chance!" She had just entered a new drug program offered by the Mobile County criminal court system, a program designed to get nonviolent drug offenders one last chance to straighten up and fly right. It was called Drug Court. It still is. At Drug Court, each case is monitored by a select committee. And in the beginning, at the helm of that program was a young district judge named Mike McMaken. McMaken summed up the process of client selection back in 2000. "They want to sentence somebody when I'm not ready to give up," he said. "I may want to sentence somebody because I'm annoyed with them, but they still see hope." It didn't always work. But many time, it did. It was a project McMaken embraced throughout most of his career as a judge until his battle with Leukemia forced him to step back from the job he loved. After fighting that disease for 25 years, McMaken lost that battle Sunday night. But there's more to this story. Much more. Turns out Drug Court wasn't the only iron heating in Mike McMaken's fire. Even before he put on a judge's robe in the late 80's, Mike McMaken was making a difference in the lives of Mobilians, even the youngest Mobilians when he got involved in something that would become the Child Advocacy Center. Pat Guyton directs the offices of Mobile's Child Advocacy Center. It's mission, as it has been from the beginning, is to rescue children from the clutches of those who would abuse them, prosecute the abusers, and work toward making each child whole. Before CAC, says Guyton, children faced a barrage of questions from a multitude of agencies. "Mike McMaken found that to be criminal in itself," said Guyton, "and said, we've got to change that process." And so, in 1983, with the help of the newly formed Mobile Child Abuse Committee, McMaken helped create the machine that would join forces among agencies meant to help the helpless. "He had the unique ability of bringing together lots of different people from, like, law enforcement, prosecution, metal health," recalled Guyton, "getting them all at the same table and making sure they all worked together." He stepped down from that task when he became a judge. That's when he became part of Frank Harkins' life. "And shortly after that, Mike and Kathy had their first child, Michelle," he remembered. "And Michelle was a beautiful child. She was born with Down Syndrome." As fate would have it, McMaken had just volunteered his services with Easter Seas, which served children with Down Syndrome. Harkins is the agency's director. For him, McMaken was a Godsend, instrumental in creating programs for the children, even as they became adults, inaugurating a special day program for clients even a special needs cheerleading squad. "And they go throughout our city and community performing and competing," said Harkins. "They've got a little trophy case, too. But it was enabling people to be all that God created them to be. And it was all Mike ever did was to help other people." "He was a good father, a good husband, a good judge, a good friend, a good man," said Harkins. "Our lives are better because of Mike McMaken." Mike McMaken was 67-years-old.

Added 13 Sept 2026