Judge Bernard C. Staples, 77, has retired after 21 years as a District Court judge in Ellsworth.

ELLSWORTH, Maine – In his nearly 21A1 2 years as a District Court judge, the Bible verse on which Bernard Staples reflected most often was Matthew 19:14: “But Jesus said, – Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'” Staples, 77, of Hulls Cove in Bar Harbor retired Thursday.