[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 30, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF BOOKER T. STEPHENS, EIGHTH JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT JUDGE, McDOWELL COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
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HON. CAROL D. MILLER
of west virginia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Mrs. MILLER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Judge Booker T.
Stephens, as he retires from serving 34 years on the bench in the
Eighth Judicial Circuit, McDowell County, West Virginia.
Judge Stephens was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, and raised in
McDowell County, West Virginia. He graduated from Excelsior High School
in War, West Virginia. In 1966, Judge Stephens obtained his Bachelor of
Arts Degree in Political Science and Spanish from West Virginia State
College (University). He served proudly in the U.S. Army from 1966 to
1968. Upon completion of his tour of duty in the U.S. Army, Judge
Stephens obtained his law degree from Howard University's School of Law
in Washington, DC. He returned back to Welch, WV to practice law from
1972 to 1984.
Booker T. Stephens has served as a Judge in the Eight Judicial
Circuit of McDowell County, West Virginia, ascending to the bench in
1985. He was elected to the Eighth Judicial Circuit and re-elected in
1992, 2000, 2008, and 2016. Judge Stephens is admitted to practice
before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and the Supreme
Court of the United States of America. He serves as a member of the
prestigious Supreme Court of Appeals Mass Litigation Panel and is a
former member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of
State Trial Court Judges with the American Bar Association. Judge
Stephens has been appointed numerous times to sit as a Justice on the
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia when a Justice has been
recused from a case. He was a member of the Standing Committee on
Minorities in the Judiciary of the American Bar Association; a member
of the Supreme Court's Task Force to Study Perceived Racial Disparity
in the Juvenile Justice System in West Virginia; and a former Adjunct
Professor at West Virginia University's College of Law and Bluefield
State College. Judge Stephens has served as an assistant prosecutor and
a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.
Judge Stephens has received many honors during his years on the
bench. He was named Outstanding Judge of the Year in 1993 and 2016 by
the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. He has been a recipient of
the Governor's Living The Dream Award by the Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.
Holiday Commission; The Fred H. Caplan Civil Justice Award by the West
Virginia Association of Justice; Sara Lee Neal Community Award of the
Year for Health, Science and Technology Academy; inducted into the West
Virginia All Black Schools Sports and Academic Hall of Fame; presented
the American Bar Association's Law Day Liberty Bell Award by Chief
Justice Brent Benjamin; presented Judge of the Year Award by the West
Virginia Association of Justice; presented the Achievement Award by the
Mountain State Bar Association in 1985; a Fellow with the West Virginia
Bar Foundation; honorary inductee to the West Virginia State University
ROTC Hall of Fame; West Virginia Judicial Association Representative to
the American Bar; selected by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph to be
featured in the 2005 ``Pride'' Edition of Heroes and Legends; Layman of
the Year recognition from the West Virginia Baptist State Layman's
Auxiliary; Presidential Citation, National Association for Equal
Opportunity in High Education; Diploma of Judicial Skills, American
Academy of Judicial Education; Certificates of Achievement, The
National Judicial College; Achievement Award, Mountain State Bar
Association; Earl Warren Fellow, NAACP LDF; co-sponsored and Floor
Leader of the Bill that created a West Virginia Holiday in recognition
of Dr. Martin L. King's birthday. He is a member of the Board of West
Virginia State University Foundation and a member of the Multi-Cultural
Affairs Advisory Committee at Bluefield State College. Judge Stephens
is a highly sought out speaker and lecturer. In 1996, Judge Stephens
delivered a memorable and stirring commencement address during the
commencement exercises of West Virginia State University.
Judge Stephens has presided over several noteworthy cases in the
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, which include H. Harvey Oakley,
C.W. Ferguson, III and Elsa Louise Kingdon, as a widow and Executrix of
the estate of Arthur R. Kingdon v. Glen B. Gainer, A. James Manchin,
and Martha Merritt, No. 16584, May 31, 1985. Authored the Majority
Opinion alone with Justice Chafin; Sam R. Harshbarger v. The Honorable
Glen B. Gainer, State Auditor, November 23, 1988; TXO v. Alliance
resources, 419 S.E. 2d 8870,1992 (Affirmed by the West Virginia Supreme
Court of Appeals 5-0 and United States Supreme Court 6-3).
One of the many things Judge Stephens is proud of is the
implementation of Law Day in McDowell County, an annual event that
coincides with the American Bar Association's Law Day. In its 23rd year
in McDowell County, Law Day provides an opportunity for students to
learn how the judicial system works and stimulate an early desire to
pursue a rewarding career in law. Judge Stephens often states, ``I know
of no greater profession than being a lawyer.''
Judge Stephens along with his wife, Attorney Gloria Stephens believe
in giving back to their community and have established an endowment
scholarship fund at West Virginia State University. In recognition of
this endowment, West Virginia State University's bookstore was named
the Judge Booker T. and Attorney Gloria Stephens bookstore.
Outside of his legal work, Judge Stephens is a Life Member of the
NAACP; a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; Delta Theta Phi
Legal Fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. He is a 32nd Degree Mason
and affiliated with the MWPHGL Jurisdiction of WV, Inc. F & A M; PM
Excelsior Lodge No. 22; PM Kimball Lodge No. 13; and PG Trustee. Judge
Stephens has taught bible study at Mt. Chapel Baptist Church, Golden
Harvest Nursing Home, and Elkhorn Towers. He serves faithfully at his
church, Heart of God Ministries, in Beckley, West Virginia.
Judge Stephens is married to Attorney Gloria M. Davis Stephens. They
have two children, Attorney Ciara M. Stephens, of Los Angeles,
California and Booker T. Stephens, II of Welch, West Virginia and a new
grandson, Sebastian.
Over the course of Judge Stephens' successful law career, he has
lived and practiced by the scripture in Luke 12:48 of the Bible, ``From
everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required . . .''
Judge Booker T. Stephens has given much to his state and community in
West Virginia.
As Congresswoman for the Third Congressional District of the State
of West Virginia, it is my distinct honor to rise today to recognize
the outstanding contributions, distinguished career in law and
community service of Judge Booker T. Stephens in the State of West
Virginia, as he retires on May 31, 2019, from serving 34 years on the
bench.
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