Published: August 01, 2009 12:02 am      

Davis sworn in as circuit judge

CATLETTSBURG — Judge George W. Davis III put on a black robe in front of a full courtroom on Friday and raised his right hand to take the oath of his new office — circuit judge.

Gov. Steve Beshear appointed Davis to the position on July 24. He’s served as a Boyd County district judge since 1999.

He was sworn in by Judge C. David Hagerman, chief Boyd County circuit judge.

Davis’ wife, Marcia Caniff-Davis, held the Bible for her husband’s swearing in.

“I’m really proud of him, it means a lot,” she said. “He’s worked awful hard.”

Addressing the crowd, Davis talked about his first experience running for district judge in 1998. He recalled knocking on the doors of many homes in the county and sitting down with people to talk about what they wanted in a judge.

“Every person I talked to told me they wanted a fair, firm judge who treated everyone equally,” Davis said.

He said that’s the kind of judge he’s tried to be during his years on the bench.

Davis brought an 1877 copy of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, a book several inches thick, which belonged to his great-great grandfather to the ceremony. The statutes today would probably take up a whole bookshelf he said.

“One thing has remained the same, and that is the rule of law,” Davis said.

He said he would continue that tradition.

Jesse Ross, 68, of Durbin, attended the ceremony as a friend of the family. He’s a friend of Davis’ father and said he’s known Davis all of his life.

“It’s great to see someone come all the way from start to finish,” Ross said.

Davis said after the ceremony that he and District Judge Gerald B. Reams Jr. have worked hard to manage the district court effectively and organize the docket.

He said he looks forward to the challenge of making the circuit court more efficient so people can move through the system quicker.

“I’ve worked hard for the last 20 years to get to this position,” Davis said.

Davis always wanted to be in public service, but originally thought of running for a legislative position, he said. He worked for two circuit court judges after graduation from law school.

Seeing their effect on the community made him want to be a circuit judge, Davis said.

Several members of the state judiciary attended the ceremony, including Deputy Chief Justice Will T. Scott of the Kentucky Supreme Court, Judge Janet L. Stumbo of the Kentucky Court of Appeals and Judge Susan M. Johnson, chief regional district judge.

Johnson served as Davis’ mentor when he first became a district judge. She said the position was challenging because of his high standards.

“He expected only the best from himself and those surrounding him,” Johnson said.

KATIE BRANDENBURG can be reached at kbrandenburg@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2657.