WHATS NEW WITH AMENDMENT 2?

     West Virginia's State Supreme Court Justices spent about 2 million dollars of the state's money to renovate their offices. That is an outrageous amount of money. West Virginian's have a right to be upset. The Supreme Court Justice's are being dealt with at this moment with impeachment trials due to the over spending. Two of the Supreme Court Justices have resigned, and so we get to vote to replace those two in the upcoming election. The West Virginia State Legislature has put on the ballot an amendment to deal with this issue of the Supreme Court over spending, Amendment 2.

 https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/new-wv-supreme-court-audit-shines-light-on-renovations-overpaying/article_5af9a21f-0303-559f-9a72-14bcfaf1ad9f.html

     Amendment 2, if approved, will grant the State Legislature a certain amount of power and oversight regarding the State Legislatures budget. See the West Virginia Metro News link below for more.

 http://wvmetronews.com/2018/03/19/for-or-against-2-proposed-constitutional-amendments-will-be-on-west-virginia-general-election-ballots/

     Granting the State Legislature more power over budgets is giving more responsibility to a government agency that can't get its own budget in balance, or in on time, year after year. Its swapping one group of over spenders to look after the states Supreme Court budget, with another group of individuals who are bad at completing budgets. 2018 was the first year in quite a while that the West Virginia State Legislature completed the budget on time (never mind my opinion on the budget's priorities). In 2017 it took the state legislature months of extra time to hammer out a budget. It took until June in 2016 as well.

http://wvmetronews.com/2018/03/10/wv-budget-set-for-passage-today-day-60-of-wv-legislative-session/
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/wv-legislature-passes-budget-takes-million-in-one-time-funds/article_063067d2-6259-59d9-b95e-fa7cd847cf3a.html

     Granting the State Legislature power over the State Supreme Courts budget would give the party in power improper influence over the State Supreme Court, and potentially the Courts decisions. I don't care which side of the aisle you are on, that's a bad idea. If Republicans are in charge and have increased influence over the courts budget, Democrats wont like it. If Democrats are in charge and have increased influence over the courts budget, Republicans wont like it.

     The State Supreme Court needs to be responsible with their budget, no on will argue against that. Amendment 2 is the wrong way to bring the Supreme Court budget back to being reasonable. There is another way, and that's by electing experienced Judges with a proven track record to the State Supreme Court this election. Judges like Will Thompson and Joanna Tabit, both of whom are currently Circuit Judges. So I would encourage West Virginians to vote no on Amendment 2, and to vote for Judges Thompson and Tabit.

TIME TO REVIEW THE WV SUPREME COURT CANDIDATES.

     In this upcoming election, the citizens of West Virginia will be able to vote for two of the 20 candidates for the West Virginia Supreme Court. There are two divisions, Division one and Division two. The difference between the divisions is which former WV Supreme Court Justice the candidates are seeking to replace. The candidates aren't permitted to say what they think about a great many subjects, so deciding which to vote for is even more difficult. I'm going to do a little google/facebook search on each candidate, to try and give some idea who you might want to vote for. Otherwise, you might have nothing to go on. Here are the subjects I'm interested in: profession, experience, and political party. On the ballot, the candidates will all be listed as non partisan.

http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/candidate-search/


Tim Armistead, Division 1: He is a Republican, and last legislative session, was the speaker of the house in the House of Delegates. Has been temporarily appointed to the Supreme Court temporarily by Governor Justice.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/nine-apply-for-interim-seat-on-wv-supreme-court/article_42788831-f61b-5751-b2ea-ee100fb10a3a.html

Harry Bruner Jr Division 1.: Profession: Lawyer. Watch his interview with WCHSTV.com on the link below. If elected, he says he will reduce his Supreme Court Justice salary from 136,000 to 36,000 dollars a year. He has a plan to reduce spending and increase transparency in the Supreme Court. Read all about it in the Herald link below.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/opinion/harry-c-bo-bruner-jr-trust-in-the-state-supreme/article_da80a6a2-e7cd-5e3f-b47a-fb3d0cd1fab7.html
https://wchstv.com/news/kyc/wv-supreme-court-division-1/harry-bruner-division-1-west-virginia-supreme-court-candidate
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Robert Carlton Division 1: Profession: Lawyer. I couldn't find much else.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Jim Douglas Division 2: Profession: Current Family Court Judge in Kanawha County. The Family court is one level down in the courts from the Circuit courts, and two levels down from the Supreme Court. Watch his interview on WCHSTV.com on the link below. Judge Douglas has some ideas that I find interesting. He became a Judge on the Kanawha County Family court on January 1, 2017. He is on the Democratic executive committee of Braxton County. See the "Williamson daily news" link below for more.

http://www.williamsondailynews.com/candidates/w-va-supreme-court-division-jim-douglas/article_ed43279a-271e-5c47-9ef7-a3016902b955.html
http://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/press/familycourtJudgesMasterList2017.html#jimDouglas
https://wchstv.com/news/kyc/wv-supreme-court-division-2/jim-douglas-division-2-west-virginia-supreme-court-candidate
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Robert Frank Division 2: Profession: Lawyer, with what looks to be his own law firm (unless there are two lawyers in Lewisburg with the name "Robert Frank), which you can look up on Facebook. He also has a candidate page on Facebook.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Ronald Hatfield, Jr. Division 1: Profession: Lawyer. I was unable to find anything else doing a facebook search and a google search.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Mark Hunt Division 1: Democrat, Lawyer. Former Delegate in the WV House of Delegates. Ran for US Congress in 2016. Ran for WV State Senate in the 2018 Democratic primary. He founded his own Law firm. He also has been a legislative analyst for the Legislative services and counsel to the state auditor. His website says he has a reputation for being "tough on crime". See the Herald-Dispatch article link below for more. You can also check out his website for more: https://sy449-c321a1.pages.infusionsoft.net/

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/wv_candidates/w-va-supreme-court-division-mark-hunt/article_80241376-bd16-11e8-98a8-1702dd88cbcf.html
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Evan Jenkins Division 2: Republican and until recently was the Congressman from West Virginia's third congressional district. Has been temporarily appointed to the Supreme Court temporarily by Governor Justice.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/nine-apply-for-interim-seat-on-wv-supreme-court/article_42788831-f61b-5751-b2ea-ee100fb10a3a.html

Jeffrey Kessler Division 2: Democrat, former WV State Senate President and one time candidate for Governor. Profession: Lawyer. Founding partner at "Berry, Kessler, Crutchfield, Taylor & Gordon LLC in Moundsville" He has served as a city attorney, Municipal Judge, and assistant prosecutor. See the Herald dispatch link below for more. He has been endorsed by the UMWA. See his website for more: https://www.jeffkesslerwv.com/
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/wv_candidates/w-va-supreme-court-division-jeffrey-jeff-kessler/article_b56a3ed4-bd16-11e8-8e1a-0774a1a13ee1.html
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Hiram Lewis IV Division 1: Former Republican candidate for Attorney General. Profession: Lawyer. He has a facebook page, but I think its just a personal page.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Brendan Long Division 2: Profession: Lawyer. You can watch his interview with WCHS TV by clicking on the link below.
https://wchstv.com/news/kyc/wv-supreme-court-division-2/brandon-long-division-2-west-virginia-supreme-court-candidate
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html
https://brendenlongcampaign.wixsite.com/campaign

Jim O'Brien Division 2: Profession: Lawyer. He has been a federal law clerk and assistant U.S. attorney for WV. You can check out his facebook page for more.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

D.C. Offutt, jr. Division 1: Profession: Lawyer. Unfortunately, my facebook and google search came up with nothing.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

William Schwartz Division 2: Profession: Lawyer. See the links below for more.

https://wvrecord.com/stories/511446471-charleston-attorney-schwartz-explores-run-for-state-supreme-court-seat
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Marty Sheehan Division 2: Profession: Lawyer. Likes to wear red shoes to court according the intelligencer article below.

http://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2018/09/redshoes-name-causes-west-virginia-supreme-court-ballot-issue-for-martin-sheehan/
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Dennise Renee Smith Division 2: Profession: Lawyer. She has also served as "staff attorney" for the State Legislature. See her interview with WCHS TV on the link below. Go to her website https://www.smithforthesupremecourt.com/ for more.

https://wchstv.com/news/kyc/wv-supreme-court-division-2/dennise-smith-division-2-west-virginia-supreme-court-candidate
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Joanna Tabit Division 1: Profession: Current Circuit Judge of Kanawha County. You can watch her interview with WCHSTV.com on the link below. She was a personal law clerk for the WV Supreme Court Justice Thomas McHugh. She has worked for the state attorney generals office. For more, go to her website https://judgejoannaforwv.com/ So far, her website and interviews have been impressive. Judge Tabit, as of the 2014 Charleston Gazette article, is a Democrat.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/joanna-tabit-named-new-kanawha-county-circuit-judge/article_c74fda10-89b8-59cc-b068-52e72ad62498.html
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/wv_candidates/w-va-supreme-court-division-joanna-i-tabit/article_7dc0c7c2-bd17-11e8-be9b-834333e7e8d8.html
https://wchstv.com/news/kyc/wv-supreme-court-division-1/joanna-tabit-division-1-west-virginia-supreme-court-candidate
http://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/press/circuitJudgesMasterList2017.html#joannaTabit
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

William Stewart Thompson Division 2: Profession: Current Circuit Judge of Boone County. You can watch an interview with him on the WCHSTV.com Link below. Judge Thompson seems to be passionate about West Virginia's opioid crisis, and helping people recover from their addictions. See his website https://www.judgewillthompson.com/ Watch the video about his drug court. Its a bit inspiring. His drug court is so successful, that he received congratulations from the President. He has been endorsed by the Teamsters.

https://wchstv.com/news/beyond-the-podium/william-thompson-division-2-west-virginia-supreme-court-candidate
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/wv_candidates/w-va-supreme-court-division-judge-will-thompson/article_9743f25a-bd17-11e8-a801-2771fd08c261.html
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Chris Wilkes Division 1: Profession: Current Circuit Judge of Berkeley County. You can watch his interview on WCHSTV.com link below. Here is Judge Wilkes website: https://wilkesforsupremecourt.com/home.asp?s=about#about He does have an impressive resume. Judge Wilkes is a Republican according to the Charleston Gazette article below.

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/beane-wilkes-explore-state-supreme-court-bids/article_ee7447c5-3e98-5af3-b521-61100da8a710.html
https://wchstv.com/news/kyc/wv-supreme-court-division-1/chris-wilkes-division-1-west-virginia-supreme-court-candidate
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/wv_candidates/w-va-supreme-court-division-chris-wilkes/article_af5966ae-bd17-11e8-a552-a37259100ae5.html
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

Jeff Woods Division 1: Profession: Lawyer. U.S. Army JAG lawyer. Municipal court judge in Nitro, WV.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/wv_candidates/w-va-supreme-court-division-jeff-c-woods/article_c5f9c50c-bd17-11e8-b006-f70f45ecac5e.html
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/election_2018/two-more-including-ex-state-senate-leader-file-for-wv/article_506dd540-24a3-58ac-add2-7fdefc1afc96.html

My opinion:

     There are many good candidates here. Jeffrey Kessler, Jim Douglas and Jeff Woods I feel would make good additions to the Supreme Court. However, in my opinion they are not the best options. The Supreme Court shouldn't have a "on the job training" option. The best candidates come from the Circuit courts, which is the level of the state judicial system below the Supreme Court. There are three Circuit Court judges running for Supreme Court. William Stewart Thompson in Division 2. Joanna Tabit and Chris Wilkes in division 1.

     William Thompson's passion in tackling the opioid crisis is inspiring, and I will gladly vote for him in the upcoming election. Between Joanna Tabit and Chris Wilkes, each has there own advantages and disadvantages. Judge Wilkes has been a Circuit Court judge longer, but Judge Tabit has actually worked at the State Supreme Court before. I feel that the experience working at the Supreme Court and being a Circuit Court Judge is more important. My vote will go to Judge Tabit.