Judge Buell

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. 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.

Buell's deputy at SJS is Judge Garcia. She partnered with him on the streets when they were regular street judges, and when Judge Dredd promoted him to head of SJS at 301 Dredd chose her as his deputy. She was probably the closest Buell had to a friend before and after his appointment to the SJS. Naturally she became deputy head of SJS for the city on his next promotion.

References

*"The Pit," "2000 AD" #970-999 (1995-96)
*"The Cal Legacy," "2000 AD" #1178-1179 (2000)
*"Driving Desire," "2000 AD" #1271 (2001)