CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Supreme Court will ultimately decide what punishments — if any — Randolph County Circuit Judge Jaymie Wilfong will face for admittedly having a two-year affair, between 2011 and 2013, with a man who served as director of the North Central Community Corrections (NCCC) and made multiple appearances in her court.
One of Wilfong’s attorneys, Harry Deitzler, said Wilfong has admitted she made a mistake.
“She’s a genuinely good person and a good judge and I do question whether it is a situation of morality police versus objectivity but, on the other hand, I fully appreciate that there is an appearance of impropriety that has to be addressed,” Deitzler said.
The Judicial Investigation Commission has, this week, found Wilfong violated the Judicial Code of Conduct by carrying on a sexual relationship, in her chambers at times, with Travis Carter who worked with the judge, in his role with North Central Community Corrections, to decide which defendants were candidates for alternative sentencing.
Wilfong reported the affair herself.
Two charges have since been forwarded to the state Judicial Hearing Board for consideration. A recommendation will be made to the state Supreme Court. The Court could decide to take no action, reprimand Wilfong in any number of ways, opt to suspend her for the remainder of her term or pull her law license.
Deitzler said he does not think Wilfong should lose her job. “I don’t think it rises the level of the offenses that I have seen for which judges have been rightfully removed,” he said on Thursday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Wilfong was elected to the 20th Judicial Circuit, serving Randolph County, in 2008. She is the only judge in that circuit.