MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — New Monongalia County Circuit Judge Paul Gwaltney says he is the product of his parents hard work and sacrfice.
Gwaltney took the oath of office in a Friday ceremony in Morgantown. He was appointed recently to replace Judge Susan Tucker who retired.
In his remarks, Gwaltney said we are all products of our experiences and reflected on his hardworking family in Washington state. He said his father, a 45-year employee of the United States Postal Service, worked his shift, came to take a nap, then went to the local school to coach whatever sport was in season, depending on the season. His mother traveled for more than an hour on public transportation every day to sell candy in downtown Seattle.
Gwaltney said he’s humbled by the appointment from Gov. Jim Justice.
“I’m so grateful to the governor for entrusting this position to me. For the opportunity to serve my community in this fashion, I’m so grateful.”
As a criminal defense attorney specializing in child abuse cases, Gwaltney said he traveled to jails to meet with clients to make sure he got all the facts. During this work, he met and began to work with another attorney, James Hawkins, who shared the same passion for his clients.
“I’ve spent many an hour at the regional jails, not overnight but many an hour there,” Gwaltney said. “And I think because of that and my conversations with clients and their families, I do bring a different perspective to things.”
Hawkins said before he met Gwaltney he saw his name frequently on sign-in logs at different jails across the state. Hawkins said that when he finally met Gwaltney in a courtroom and watched him work he was completely impressed and the two became friends and co-workers.
“Nobody will outwork him,” Hawkins said. “Go to court, do your prep, go to jail, start over the next day and on the weekends—that’s who he is.”
Gwaltney said he will run for office in 2024.