# Judge Henry — The Virginian character guide > Judge Henry in The Virginian by Owen Wister. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** The Judge, Henry, Hank **First appearance:** 0004-ii-when-you-call-me-that-smile ## Snapshot A former federal judge turned Wyoming cattle rancher, he must reconcile the law he served with the frontier justice his own ranch depends on. ## Who they are Judge Henry presides over Sunk Creek Ranch, an oasis of milk, eggs, and civilized fare in a territory of sowbelly and beans. Having once worn the robe of an upright federal judge, he now finds himself asked to defend conduct that looks like defiance of the law itself — and he does not relish it. His struggle between the convictions that are his soul's riches and the demands of the Cattle Land gives the novel its central moral weather. ## Relationships ### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian) _professional_ Judge Henry is the Virginian's employer and mentor, trusting him as foreman of his ranch. ### [Balaam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam) _rivalry_ Balaam and Judge Henry are in conflict over land, livestock, and moral principles, with Henry opposing Balaam's cruelty. ### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian) _professional_ Judge Henry is the Virginian's employer and mentor, trusting him as foreman of his ranch. ### [The Virginian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/the_virginian) _professional_ Judge Henry is the Virginian's employer and mentor, trusting him as foreman of his ranch. ### [Balaam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam) _rivalry_ Balaam and Judge Henry are in conflict over land, livestock, and moral principles, with Henry opposing Balaam's cruelty. ### [Balaam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/balaam) _rivalry_ Balaam and Judge Henry are in conflict over land, livestock, and moral principles, with Henry opposing Balaam's cruelty. ## In the story ### [IV: Deep Into Cattle Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/iv-deep-into-cattle-land) Mentioned as the owner of the horses Buck and Muggins. ### [V: Enter the Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/v-enter-the-woman) Welcomes the narrator to Sunk Creek Ranch along with his wife. ### [VI: Em'ly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/vi-em-ly) Owner of Sunk Creek Ranch; arranges for the Virginian to escort the narrator; noted for his ranch's luxuries like milk, butter, and eggs. ### [VII: Through Two Snows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/vii-through-two-snows) Discusses the Virginian's shrewdness and value with Mrs. Henry; realizes the Virginian's departure was a strategic move to prove his worth. ### [XIII: The Game and the Nation—Act First](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xiii-the-game-and-the-nation-act-first) Entrusted the Virginian with the cattle shipment and a mission to negotiate with railroad directors. ### [XIV: Between the Acts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xiv-between-the-acts) Arranged for the narrator's autumn holiday and a horse at his ranch. ### [XVIII: "Would You Be a Parson?"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xviii-would-you-be-a-parson) Returns to the ranch with a wagon of guests, including Molly Wood, and is greeted by the missionary. ### [XIX: Dr. Macbride Begs Pardon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xix-dr-macbride-begs-pardon) Hosts the party, expresses relief at the narrator's arrival to break up Dr. MacBride's discourse, and defends the Virginian's actions. ### [XX: The Judge Ignores Particulars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xx-the-judge-ignores-particulars) Promotes the Virginian; discusses his philosophy of leadership and Christianity; ignores particulars. ### [XXI: In a State of Sin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxi-in-a-state-of-sin) Judge Henry hosts Dr. MacBride out of policy and good nature, though he finds the missionary burdensome and compares him to an elephant. ### [XXII: “What Is a Rustler?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxii-what-is-a-rustler) Mentions the Virginian's promotion and his satisfaction with the new foreman's performance and magnanimity. ### [Various Points](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxiii-various-points) Mentioned as the ranch owner; the Virginian works with him on cattle theft issues. ### [A Letter with a Moral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxiv-a-letter-with-a-moral) Mentioned as needing the Virginian's help, which prevents his visit to Molly. ### [Balaam and Pedro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxvi-balaam-and-pedro) Judge Henry is the owner of the horses being returned; Balaam hopes to curry favor with him by personally conducting the return. ### [Grandmother Stark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxvii-grandmother-stark) Sends a messenger with clothes and mail for the recovering Virginian. ### [The Spinster Loses Some Sleep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-spinster-loses-some-sleep) Defends vigilante justice to Molly, arguing that lynching is a necessary assertion of self-governance in a lawless region. ### [To Fit Her Finger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxiv-to-fit-her-finger) Accompanies the Virginian and Mrs. Henry on a mountain climb to mark boundary corners. ### [At Dunbarton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/chapters/xxxvi-at-dunbarton) Mentioned as the Virginian's former employer and partner; the Virginian learned from observing his Eastern visitors. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters/judge_henry - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_virginian_se/characters