[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2651-S2652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING JUDGE JAMES G. WEDDLE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute and bid 
farewell to a Kentuckian I knew well and considered a good friend. The 
Honorable Judge James G. Weddle of Casey County, KY, passed away 
recently, shortly after announcing he would be stepping down from the 
bench. He was 71.
  Judge Weddle had a remarkable legal career that spanned over 45 
years; much of it in public service. A graduate of the University of 
Kentucky School of Law, Judge Weddle served as Casey County Attorney 
for 16 years, and served as a circuit judge on the 29th Judicial 
Circuit of Kentucky from 1998 until his untimely passing; he planned to 
retire in May.
  What strikes me the most about Judge Weddle, after having the benefit 
of his friendship, is how much he valued public service to the people 
of Casey County and Kentucky. Right up until the end of his career, he 
was always striving to be better. He felt he had not yet reached his 
peak. Being the best--and doing the best, for the benefit of all who 
came into his courtroom was important to him.
  A scholarly man, Judge Weddle was sure to read all the latest law 
books and articles, and often knew more about recent legal events than 
lawyers in his courtroom who were half his age. He was well known for 
his ability to cite case after case without having to reference a 
computer or his law books. Simply put, he loved the law. And he loved 
the people of his community. You couldn't ask for a finer combination 
of passions in a Kentucky circuit court judge. The people of the 
Commonwealth were blessed to have him.
  Elaine and I extend our deepest sympathies to the judge's family, 
especially his wife, Zona; his son, James; his daughters, Lucinda, 
Suzanne, Andrea, and Sarah; his grandchildren, Jack, Jeb, and Beau; his 
brother, R.C.; his sister, Delores; and many other friends and family 
members. The judge was preceded in death by his sister, Norma Jean.
  At this time, Mr. President, I would like to ask my Senate colleagues 
to join me in honoring the memory of the Honorable Judge James G. 
Weddle. The people of Kentucky are the better for his many years of 
service.
  A newspaper in my home State, the Casey County News, published an 
excellent article highlighting the Judge's life and career, as well as 
his obituary. I ask unanimous consent that said materials be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the materials were ordered to appear as 
follows:

              [From the Casey County News, Apr. 18, 2012]

Judge Weddle Remembered--Circuit Court Judge Dies Days After Announcing 
                               Retirement

                           (By Larry Rowell)

       A Casey County native who devoted his life to his family, 
     the law, and to the people of Casey County has died after an 
     extended illness.
       Casey Circuit Court Judge James G. Weddle died in the early 
     morning hours of April 11 at home surrounded by family 
     members. He was 71.
       Just a few days before, Weddle had announced that he was 
     retiring May 1 from the 29th Judicial Circuit, which included 
     Casey and Adair counties.
       Weddle was serving his second eight-year term, having first 
     been elected in 1998.
       Prior to serving as a circuit judge, Weddle became an 
     attorney in 1966 after graduating from the University of 
     Kentucky School of Law. He served as Casey County Attorney 
     for 16 years and also in private practice.
       Fellow judges and attorneys had nothing but high praise for 
     Weddle and a legal career that spanned more than 45 years.
       ``I have known Judge Weddle for many years and he was 
     distinguished by his dedication to his work. No other judge I 
     know anywhere worked harder with a completeness and constancy 
     of his work,'' said Chief Justice John Minton of the Kentucky 
     Supreme Court.
       Casey and Adair County Commonwealth's Attorney Brian Wright 
     prosecuted many cases before Weddle.
       ``I had a lot of respect for Judge Weddle, especially for 
     his legal mind. He devoted his life to the legal 
     profession,'' Wright said.
       Also, Weddle was known for his vast knowledge of legal 
     cases and his ability to cite cases without ever pulling a 
     law book off the shelf.
       ``He read books, books, and books, and articles on the 
     Internet. He didn't golf or hunt or fish. His life was the 
     law,'' Wright said.
       Still, Weddle was known for being a fair judge who had an 
     open mind.
       ``It was never his way or the highway when it came to the 
     law,'' said Janelle ``Tootsie'' Roberts, who served as 
     Weddle's secretary for 22 years.
       Wright said that in one particular case he was trying 
     before Weddle, he was able to show the judge a prior case 
     that changed the way he thought about it.
       ``He was always open to something new,'' Wright said.
       Roberts said that in addition to loving the law, Weddle 
     also was a history buff who had a knack for remembering dates 
     and events.
       ``Judge Weddle loved history and sometimes in court he 
     would ask, Today is December 7, can anyone tell me what 
     happened on that date?''' Roberts said.
       And there was another belief that Minton, Wright, and 
     Roberts shared about Weddle his love for the people of Casey 
     County.
       ``In the last conversation that I had with Judge Weddle 
     where he told me he was going

[[Page S2652]]

     to resign, he told me how important his work was to him and 
     how reluctant he was to give it up. He kept thinking he was 
     going to get better,'' Minton said.
       ``I hate to lose dedicated people like Judge Weddle. It's a 
     loss to the state and to the counties he served. And, he 
     loved Casey County,'' Minton said.
       A memorial service for Weddle was held on Monday. A 
     complete obituary can be found on page 4.


                     THE HONORABLE JAMES G. WEDDLE

       Judge James G. Weddle passed away on Wednesday, April 11, 
     2012, at his residence. He was born on March 21, 1941, in 
     Liberty, Kentucky, and was 71. James was the son of the late 
     Rupert Christopher Weddle and Laura Jane Price Weddle and a 
     Circuit Judge of the 29th Judicial Circuit of Kentucky. He 
     was preceded in death by one sister; Norma Jean Weddle 
     Murphy.
       Survivors include his spouse, Zona Ellis Weddle; one son, 
     James Bryan Weddle of Lexington, Kentucky; four daughters, 
     Lucinda Jane Weddle (and Rick Grodesky) of Seattle, 
     Washington, Suzanne Weddle (and Richard Webster) of Kansas 
     City, Missouri, Andrea Weddle of Oakland, California, and 
     Sarah Jean Weddle South (and Alex South) of Spring Lake, 
     North Carolina; three grandchildren, Jack, Jeb, and Beau 
     South; one brother, R.C. (and Alma Vida) Weddle of Liberty, 
     Kentucky; and one sister, Delores (and Gerald) Sasser of 
     Louisville, Kentucky.
       Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Sunday 
     evening April 15, 2012, at the Bartle Funeral Home Chapel. 
     Memorial Services officiated by the Reverend Jimmy Brown will 
     begin at 2:00 p.m. Monday afternoon, April 16, 2012, at the 
     Bartle Funeral Home Chapel.
       The family requests in lieu of flowers please send 
     memorials to the Duke Children's Hospital and Health Care, 
     P.O. Box 2975 c/o Duke University Medical Center, Durham, 
     North Carolina 27710, or make a gift to your favorite 
     charity.
       Online condolences may be expressed at 
     www.Bartlefuneralhomes.com. Bartle Funeral Home is in charge 
     of all arrangements.

     

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