Friday, the State Supreme Court of Appeals charged Putnam County Family Court Judge William Watkins III with violating the Judicial Code of Conduct and trial court rules. Investigators say Watkins failed to make a ruling on a divorce case even after being ordered three times to do so by the Circuit Court and one time by the Supreme Court. He finally made a ruling after being threatened of being held in contempt. The high court also claims Watkins failed to regularly update the Domestic Violence Protective Order Registry. According to West Virginia Code, a family court judge is required to immediately enter all domestic violence related orders on the West Virginia domestic violence database. Court records indicate there were at least nine formal complaints filed against Judge Watkins’ conduct in the courtroom.
