Judge Buell
Encyclopedia
Judge Arthur Buell is a fictional character in the Judge Dredd
comic strip in British comic 2000 AD
. He is the current head of the Special Judicial Squad, the Internal Affairs division of the Judges
of Mega-City One
.
He first appeared in the comic as an ordinary street judge in the story "The Pit"
(1995). He had been sent to Sector 301, a dumping-ground for Judges who would otherwise be suspended from the force, and, as a result, one of the most violent areas of Mega City One.
Judge Dredd took over the running of Sector 301 in order to root out corruption within the local judges. For this, he set up a special anti-corruption unit outside the SJS (since the local SJS judges were themselves suspect). Judge Galen DeMarco
was to lead the squad and insisted on having Buell and his partner Garcia. At the time, Dredd did not really trust Buell, since his methods of law enforcement were somewhat unorthodox and Dredd suspected him of using excessive force in arrests. He only agreed when DeMarco insisted that Buell be appointed or she would have nothing to do with the investigation.
Buell himself had originally loathed the idea of having to investigate his fellow judges, but quickly came around once he realised the depths that they had sunk to. When DeMarco was suspended from duty when found to be having an affair with a fellow Judge (which was against regulations), Dredd put Buell in charge of the investigation. His enthusiasm and effectiveness persuaded Dredd to re-evaluate his original impression of Buell, and he formed a belated respect for his abilities. When Dredd's mission was complete and the task force disbanded, he promoted Buell to local head of SJS in Sector 301.
Buell excelled in his new role, and quickly won the confidence of his superiors. When Judge Niles
stepped down as overall head of SJS he nominated Buell to succeed him, and the chief judge readily agreed. The following year Buell was appointed to the Council of Five
, the city's highest government body, on which he served for eight years (2123–2131).
Buell's most notable action as head of SJS was to arrest Acting Chief Judge Sinfield
on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. When Sinfield was convicted and removed from office, Buell was reappointed to the Council of Five (2132).
Buell's deputy at SJS is Judge Garcia. She partnered with him on the streets when they were regular street judges, often covering for him when his outbursts could lead to trouble. When Judge Dredd promoted him to head of SJS at 301 Garcia became Buell's deputy. She was probably the closest Buell had to a friend both before and after his appointment to the SJS. Naturally she became deputy head of SJS for the city on his next promotion.
Judge Dredd
Judge Joseph Dredd is a comics character whose strip in the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD is the magazine's longest running . Dredd is an American law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine the powers of police, judge, jury and executioner...
comic strip in British comic 2000 AD
2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
. He is the current head of the Special Judicial Squad, the Internal Affairs division of the Judges
Judge (2000 AD)
Judge is a title held by several significant characters in the Judge Dredd series, which appears in the British comics 2000 AD and Judge Dredd Megazine...
of Mega-City One
Mega-City One
Mega-City One is a huge fictional city-state covering much of what is now the Eastern United States in the Judge Dredd comic book series. The exact boundaries of the city depend on which artist has drawn the story...
.
He first appeared in the comic as an ordinary street judge in the story "The Pit"
The Pit (Judge Dredd story)
The Pit is a Judge Dredd story which appeared in British comic 2000 AD in 1995–1996 . With 30 episodes, it had the greatest number of episodes of any single Judge Dredd story until "The Doomsday Scenario" in 1999...
(1995). He had been sent to Sector 301, a dumping-ground for Judges who would otherwise be suspended from the force, and, as a result, one of the most violent areas of Mega City One.
Judge Dredd took over the running of Sector 301 in order to root out corruption within the local judges. For this, he set up a special anti-corruption unit outside the SJS (since the local SJS judges were themselves suspect). Judge Galen DeMarco
Galen DeMarco
Galen DeMarco is a fictional character in the world of Judge Dredd. She is a former street judge who first appeared in the Judge Dredd storyline "The Pit" in 2000 AD #970.-Biography:...
was to lead the squad and insisted on having Buell and his partner Garcia. At the time, Dredd did not really trust Buell, since his methods of law enforcement were somewhat unorthodox and Dredd suspected him of using excessive force in arrests. He only agreed when DeMarco insisted that Buell be appointed or she would have nothing to do with the investigation.
Buell himself had originally loathed the idea of having to investigate his fellow judges, but quickly came around once he realised the depths that they had sunk to. When DeMarco was suspended from duty when found to be having an affair with a fellow Judge (which was against regulations), Dredd put Buell in charge of the investigation. His enthusiasm and effectiveness persuaded Dredd to re-evaluate his original impression of Buell, and he formed a belated respect for his abilities. When Dredd's mission was complete and the task force disbanded, he promoted Buell to local head of SJS in Sector 301.
Buell excelled in his new role, and quickly won the confidence of his superiors. When Judge Niles
Judge Niles
Judge Rog Niles is a fictional character in the Judge Dredd comic strip in British comic 2000 AD. He first appeared in 2000 AD prog 706 . He is the head of the Public Surveillance Unit...
stepped down as overall head of SJS he nominated Buell to succeed him, and the chief judge readily agreed. The following year Buell was appointed to the Council of Five
Council of Five
The Council of Five is a fictional legislature and court in the Judge Dredd comic strip appearing in 2000 AD. It first appeared in 2000 AD prog 86 ....
, the city's highest government body, on which he served for eight years (2123–2131).
Buell's most notable action as head of SJS was to arrest Acting Chief Judge Sinfield
Judge Sinfield
Judge Martin Sinfield is a fictional supporting character and antagonist in the Judge Dredd comic strip in 2000 AD, most notably in the story "Tour of Duty"...
on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. When Sinfield was convicted and removed from office, Buell was reappointed to the Council of Five (2132).
Buell's deputy at SJS is Judge Garcia. She partnered with him on the streets when they were regular street judges, often covering for him when his outbursts could lead to trouble. When Judge Dredd promoted him to head of SJS at 301 Garcia became Buell's deputy. She was probably the closest Buell had to a friend both before and after his appointment to the SJS. Naturally she became deputy head of SJS for the city on his next promotion.