[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

                                 ______
                                 

                          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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