'Miss Iris’ Decides It’s Time

July 29, 2021 — When Iris Stewart joined the District Attorney’s Office in November of 1994, there were 97 employees and the daily dockets for all 10 Criminal Court divisions were placed in one small closet.

Over the past 27-plus years, she has worked in General Sessions, Criminal Court, handled payroll and leave, paid bills, scheduled prosecutor conferences, tallied CLE credits, and coming from the business world, helped the office become more computerized.

The overall staff has more than doubled and that small closet probably wouldn’t hold dockets for even one court division. As Chief Administrative Clerk, she has been in charge of 18 Criminal Court secretaries, double the number needed when she started.

“I have 18 women ages 19 to 68 from diverse backgrounds, I treat them all as individuals, and I feel like I have a special bond with each of them,” says ‘Miss Iris,’ as most of them call her. “There’ve been a lot of aspirins, but it’s been a joy. I always told them, finish up what you’re doing today as if you weren’t going to be here tomorrow. Don’t leave things undone. But I’ve tried to be compassionate to their needs and to the needs of the office.”

Iris has worked for three District Attorneys, including John Pierotti, Bill Gibbons, and, for the past 10 years, me.

Iris will be deeply missed. She is that rare mix of intelligence, humility, compassion and strength. She has an incredible work ethic and demeanor that demands respect. When Iris talks, you should be listening.

Iris plans to enjoy life with her husband Robert (“We’ll just explore each day”) and break away from her work habits, such as rising at 6 a.m. each day.

“Leaving the office is bittersweet,” she says. “I’m sad, but I’m also excited. I’m going to miss the people, but I feel like it’s time. I feel like I’m leaving the way I came in, being in a good place.”