Being judge in family court requires a good deal of patience, empathy and compassion. Efficiency is a plus, but in cases regarding serious family concerns like child custody, judges must first be fair to all the parties concerned.
Judge Sharon Mullens, incumbent candidate for Family Court Judge in District 11 (Kanawha County), Division 5, responded well when challenger Jim Douglas brought up her caseload in a meeting with Gazette-Mail editors.
Mullens said when calculating child support, she considers multiple factors. "I tell litigants, 'If you work with me, I'll work with you.' I'm mindful of the economy. ... Lots of guys aren't deadbeats; they can't find jobs," she said.
Likewise, Family Court Judge Rob Montgomery, incumbent candidate for Division 1, explained the need to give all litigants a fair hearing when his challenger, Patrick Cottrell, claimed people wait too long for his hearings.
"Like in a doctor's office, sometimes you go longer," he said of people having to wait for an earlier hearing to finish before theirs can start. "I think it's important to let everyone have their say in court. ... That way, they're less likely to come back."
The challengers raise legitimate concerns, but the incumbents seem to be the better candidates. The Daily Mail recommends Sharon Mullens and Rob Montgomery in contested races for Family Court Judge in Kanawha County.