- What makes you qualified to serve as a magistrate judge? If you're an incumbent, what accomplishment(s) in the current term make you worthy of re-election?
- I meet the current legal criteria.
- Do you have a law degree? Are you a member of the state bar?
- No. No.
- Current law allows anyone with a high school degree or GED to be magistrate. Circuit judges are required to have a law degree for five years and be a member of the state bar. Should magistrates have similar requirements?
- No.
- Many cases are delayed in magistrate court. Do you believe this happens too often? What changes would you make in the upcoming term? Why or why not?
- Yes, cases are delayed. I think a restructuring of the hours would be benificial.
- Felony cases are often pleaded down to misdemeanor charges in magistrate court. In fact, a Herald-Dispatch review of felony drug trafficking cases in 2004 found that about 54 percent of the charges were dismissed or reduced to misdemeanor charges. Do you believe too many plea bargains occur? As a magistrate, how would you govern when considering these issues?
- Each case is individualized and depends on the circumstances.
- Currently magistrates begin felony court at 10:30 a.m., but the morning roll call is often followed by a lengthy recess and negotiation period. Victims, witnesses and police officers wait, sometimes for hours at a time, as attorneys negotiate. More often than not, the scheduled hearing is canceled or postponed without the subpoenaed persons ever testifying. What can you do as a magistrate in the upcoming term to increase efficiency?
- A schedule should be set and followed as close as possible with all parties being organized and prepared to adhere to that schedule.
- Critics say some bond amounts are set too high, while others complain many offenders, particularly out-of-town drug suspects, are able to post bond too quickly. How can you address these concerns in the upcoming term?
- Bonds have to be set according to the severity of the crime and realistic including the "fear of flight".
- What role does the magistrate play in reducing Cabell County's regional jail costs?
- We need to find alternative ways for some offenders to pay their debt for the given crime.
- Do you support an around-the-clock schedule, which would keep a magistrate on duty 24 hours each day as one way to help reduce Cabell County's jail bill? Do you support the current 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. weekday schedule?
- Yes, I support an around-the-clock schedule. No to the 8:30 am to 2:30 am.
- In light of increased jail bills and prison overcrowding, many people have supported alternative sentencing. Others push for strict prison and jail sentences to increase public safety and deter future crime. What role do you believe prison/jail has in today's sentencing environment?
- Public safety is first. I believe if the County can come up with alternative sentencing then these ways should be used to help reduce jail costs and overcrowding.
- What role do other punishments, such as home confinement, day reporting, probation and fines, have in today's sentencing environment?
- An alternative punishment should be used when deemed applicable.
- Several inmates have been kept in the Western Regional Jail after their charges were dismissed. The jail did not receive release forms from the magistrate who dismissed charges in those instances. The County Commission says this resulted in the county being charged for unnecessary jail stays. What will you do in the upcoming term to address these issues?
- We must make sure that forms are processed that day. With a Magistrate on duty 24 hours this will ensure that the process is done.
- Do you support the continued use of bail bondsmen in Cabell County?
- Yes.
- What should be a judge's role be in revoking someone's bond when they violate terms of their release?
- Issue the arrest warrant.
- According to media reports, a Putnam County circuit judge said he would run for re-election, but vowed he would not accept any contributions. He said he would finance the campaign with his personal savings alone. He made his decision to avoid any impropriety. He said some may think a judicial candidate owes a supporter if he is elected. Will you make a similar pledge? Why or why not?
- No. Each Candidate has a Treasurer that accepts any and all contributions without the Candidate knowing who that contributor is and the amount, if at all possible.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Do you believe magistrates should be certified after training? Why or why not?
- Yes, certifying confirms that the Magistrate has completed the training and that he/she is capable of performing their duties.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: What procedures do you believe could be improved in the handing of domestic violence and child abuse cases?
- Sentencing should be mandatory to the abuser along with counseling of each abused party/family member. Abuse affects all members involved. The abused should be counseled to learn how not to be coerced into doing what the abuser wants them to doing. A lot of cases are dropped because the abused are changing their story after the abuser has coerced dropping the charges.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Do you think magistrates need to be tougher on littering and other environmental cases?
- Yes, people need to be reminded to help keep our City/State free of litter and graffiti along with our environment. First offense should be fine and home confinement with supervised community service of cleaning the streets to eliminate graffiti and litter. Second offense should have sentencing and a fine. This should be applied to juveniles and adults.
