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00:00:00 – 00:19:46
Carter Williams, a candidate for Circuit Judge division 2 in the 26th judicial circuit, emphasizes his legal background, community connections, and family life. Another individual with a long tenure at the State Attorney General's office discusses their experience serving as a judge for almost seven and a half years, involvement in the church community, and representation of vulnerable populations. Both speakers highlight mentorship from experienced judges. They also discuss administrative responsibilities, judicial processes, the importance of learning from failures, and the desire for improvement, including initiatives like establishing a Family Treatment Court. The video focuses on the speakers' dedication to enhancing outcomes for children in the court system, prioritizing relative placement in foster care, and the ongoing need for reform in the foster care system.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Carter Williams introduces himself as a candidate running for Circuit Judge division 2 in the 26th judicial circuit. He has been a Circuit Judge in the 22nd circuit and highlights that the only change is the circuit number. Carter Williams emphasizes his role as a husband and father, residing with his wife and two daughters in Oldfields, near Morfield and Romney. He mentions his legal background, including working at a large law firm and as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the county. Williams also acknowledges his connection with the local community, including friendships with individuals like Judge Charlie Carl.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses their professional journey, including working at a private law firm and later transitioning to a long tenure at the State Attorney General’s office for almost 20 years. They highlight their representation of vulnerable populations, such as children in foster care, juveniles, and mentally impaired individuals. The speaker eventually ran for judge in 2016 and has been serving in that role for almost seven and a half years. Additionally, they mention their involvement in their church community at Duffy Memorial Church in Morfield, where their family is active in the youth group and volunteering for a program.
00:06:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses their experience growing up as a farm kid and the importance of hard work learned from their mother. They also mention their involvement in community projects through a children’s program similar to Sunday school. The speaker reflects on the lack of practical training at law school and the challenges of transitioning to being an elected official like a judge. They emphasize the need to learn by experiencing and doing, mentioning the exposure and learning curve when taking the bench for the first time. The speaker acknowledges the benefit of observing and learning from experienced judges like Judge Carl and Judge Parsons. Judge Carl’s mentorship is highlighted as instrumental in their development as a Circuit Judge.
00:09:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the administrative responsibilities of managing personnel in the court system, including stakeholders like attorneys, bailiffs, court security, law enforcement, and probation. They mention the importance of gaining experience over time to improve processes and consistently conduct proceedings. The speaker reflects on their seven and a half years of serving and expresses a desire to continue for another term. They highlight the value of working with colleagues and striving for accuracy even when mistakes occur. Additionally, the speaker mentions their high success rate in cases appealed, with the Supreme Court affirming the majority of their decisions.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the importance of learning from failures and mistakes, emphasizing that success often stems from these experiences. They highlight their goals, including being accessible as a judicial officer, improving processes, and becoming more proficient in various areas of law. There’s mention of the challenges in civil cases due to the numerous causes of action, and the speaker expresses a desire to establish a Family Treatment Court, subject to federal funding, to assist parents facing challenges in raising their children.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses a treatment-oriented and peer-based court system that has shown positive results in various states. They express support for implementing a similar system in their state to improve decision-making for individuals involved in the court system. The speaker also highlights their role as the chair of the West Virginia Supreme Court Improvement program oversight board, aiming to enhance outcomes for children in the court system. Additionally, they mention efforts to increase adoption by relatives for children coming out of foster care in their state.
00:18:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the importance of relative placement in foster care, emphasizing that children benefit from staying within their family group, community, and school district whenever possible. The speaker highlights that outcomes for children are significantly better when placed with relatives rather than in foster homes. They mention efforts to prioritize relative placement through legislation and policies, leading to improved practices in the state. The speaker expresses dedication to continuing this work if re-elected, emphasizing the ongoing need for reform in the foster care system.