Local judge ensures Santa Claus always comes to town to hear children’s Christmas wishes

By JANNA ZEPP | Photos by SKEEBO

Santa Claus has helpers all over the world, especially here in Central Texas. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Judge Ted Duffield is one of many official Santa’s Helpers from around the state and he helped us get Santa to pose for Tex Appeal’s cover photo for this issue. For more than 20 years, Duffield has been making sure that Santa makes all of his appearances on time wherever the jolly elf is called to meet children wanting an audience with him.

The judge, a former military police officer never thought that one of his life’s callings would also have him working for Santa Claus. But in 2000, the Justice of the Peace got his first taste of the world of Christmas magic.

“I had become Morgan’s Point Resort’s municipal court judge out there and when the city manager, who traditionally brought Santa to the kids, got sick, so I volunteered,” Duffield says. “Since then, I’ve handled all of Santa’s engagements there.”

Santa’s first visit to see all of the children who attended only lasted a little over an hour that first year. Now, his visits last three and a half hours to see all of the children who come to visit him.

Duffield says that some of Santa’s visits move him deeply.

“Santa had the opportunity to visit a cowboy church in Rockdale. A little girl about 12 years old came and sat on his lap and he asked her, ‘what would you like for Christmas?’” Duffield said. “She paused and said, ‘well, I guess I could ask for a pair of shoes.’”

Both Santa’s and Duffield’s heart went out to the little girl, whose family had fallen on hard times. Her shoes were almost worn down to the sole and she wasn’t expecting anything for Christmas.

“So, my wife and I bought her a shirt, a pair of pants and pair of cowboy boots,” Duffield said. “We packaged those all up and we met with my contact (from the Cowboy Church her family attended) and he took the presents over to her. She was all excited about it.”

Although the judge can’t do this for every child he encounters, he does what he can to help Santa make sure the holidays are particularly special and uplifting.

“My wife and I — and Santa, of course — have found families along the way that needed a little help,” he said. “Sometimes we work with local charities, but other times we do it ourselves, donating food and clothes. We do what we can for people in need whenever we can.”

Duffield’s other job as a justice of the peace includes issuing warrants, dealing with civil suits, performing weddings, and issuing death certificates.

“I get to help people in many different ways,” he said. “I get to give them direct answers without the runaround.”

Duffield daily sees his fair share of tough situations, but he does his best to give hope to those he meets by helping them get the answers they need, and with simple kindness and a positive attitude.

“It would be nice if everybody treated everybody like Santa does: as if it was Christmas day every day,” he said.

Duffield says that many of his fellow Santa’s helpers in Texas can be found by visiting lonestarsantas.org.

“There are a lot of us and we are always willing to step up to spread holiday joy,” he says.