Friday, July 6, 2012
Videos Show Judge Yelling
{Winfield, West Virginia}...New videos have been released of Putnam County Family Court Judge William Watkins yelling and swearing at families in his courtroom. The videos show Judge Watkins yelling at Bob Parker at an April 19th hearing for allegedly withholding child support payments from his ex-wife. Parker challenged that, saying "I don't like the idea that this guy can go around playing God." Watkins can be seen and heard using profanity, raising his voice and slamming a stack of papers against a desk. "If people don't want to get chewed out, they should comply with the courts order," said Watkins from his chambers Thursday. Watkins gained national attention after a video showed him shouting at Art Hage, a Putnam County pastor, over a published photograph of his house. Watkins claimed that was his one incident of inappropriate behavior. Administrative Director Steve Canterbury says the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals looked into the incidents, and no misconduct was found on Watkins' part.