LEWISBURG, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A forum was hosted on Thursday by the Greenbrier County Bar Association to showcase judicial candidates for a number of counties.
The format of the forum involved the presentation of questions submitted by members of the bar, and the proceedings were moderated by Mike Whitt, a practicing attorney in the Greenbrier County area.
The forum touched on several upcoming races, including those for Family Court Judge for Greenbrier and Monroe County, District 31 Circuit Judge, Pocahontas County Prosecuting Attorney, Circuit Judge for Greenbrier and Pocahontas County, and Intermediate Court of Appeals.
Charleston Attorney Mychal Shultz was the first candidate to address the audience, offering details of his own professional history and placing an emphasis on the significance of objectivity in the courtroom as part of his candidacy for Intermediate Court of Appeals.
“You want judges who are fair, balanced and impartial.That’s what I’ll bring,” said Shultz. “It’s a nonpartisan race, I don’t care about party affiliation. Across the political spectrum, one thing that everybody believes in is that judges [should be] fair, balanced, impartial, and experienced.”
Assistant Prosecutor, Joanie Nichols and Assistant Public Defender, Laura Kershner fielded several questions based on their respective candidacies for Pocahontas County Prosecutor.
Building some relationships with our law enforcement officers that have been lacking and we passed several years and doing some more community outreach that has fallen by the wayside as well. And so
Nichols pointed out a desire to establish and maintain relationships with local law enforcement – which she characterizes as having been lacking – as well as with members of the community through outreach which she says has fallen by the wayside in recent times.
“What I’m hoping to accomplish as prosecutor is just continuing to make progress and hopefully give the citizens of Pocahontas County what they’re asking for,” said Nichols.
Kershner expressed intentions to draw upon her experience serving with the public defender’s office if selected for the role of Pocahontas County Prosecutor.
“I’m very happy at the public defender’s office, but I see that I might be well suited to fill the position of prosecuting attorney and I’m prepared to do that,” said Kershner. “Come May, we’ll who’s going to be the prosecuting attorney, and I’m looking forward to being of service if I’m called upon to do so.”
Family Court Judge candidates for Greenbrier and Monroe Counties also partook in the proceedings, with attorneys Christine Stump, Grady Ford, and Kelly Kemp taking the stage to respond to submitted questions.
“I think one of the most important things about our family court is [that] our family court is not a court where you send somebody with no experience,” said Stump with regard to the demands and expectations associated with the position of Family Court Judge. “Experience is absolutely vital.”
Kemp spoke to her own experience working in the Family Court system as well as with the Bureau for Child Support Enforcement.
“I can manage a large caseload and schedule the needed hearings. I’m a hard worker and I have the disposition to work with others to get the job done, including members of the staff of the Family Court,” Kemp said. “I think all the people that come before Family Court should be treated with courtesy and respect. I have the temperament to do that, and I have the ability to listen carefully to testimony and determine who is telling the truth.”
Ford addressed an apparent need for the prioritization of cases in the Family Court System involving children, noting his own motivation to pursue the Family Court Judge position as a means of implementing change for children involved in the system.
“I am here running for Family Court judge because, while all the cases that come to court before the Family Court are incredibly important, those involving children are the highest priority,” said Ford. “I wouldn’t be running for this spot if I didn’t think I was the right person for it and had the right legal experience and life experience to do something.”
District 31 Circuit Judge candidates, Rod Mohler and Keith Lively each spoke regarding their intended approaches for the role of District 31 Circuit Judge, which applies to areas in both Summers and Monroe County.
Mohler specifically noted the importance of family to him in both his personal and professional decision-making and general approach to situations, stating, “family is very important to me, it’s the basis of everything I do,” said Mohler. “It’s the way and reason I approach the cases that I do.”
Lively spoke to a need for the availability and utilization of the court system itself to all constituents.
The evening came to a close with remarks from candidates for Circuit Judge Division 11, including incumbent Robert Richardson and opponent Ryan Blake. Division 11 pertains to both Pocahontas and Greenbrier County.
Judicial elections throughout the state of West Virginia will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
