Family Court Judge verbally abusing, threatening and intimidating a litigant, a pastor in the local church

by Eric Ross

West Virginia, WINFIELD, Putnam County – Watch how this abusive family court judge screams his head off at a pastor in his courtroom, repeatedly threatens and berates him, then throws the book at him.

Presumably, Judges are objective and courteous. – Really? See for yourself. This is not a TV reality show. It is reality. It is a must see. Please watch the whole video and listen carefully. (Should the video “disappear” from YouTube, just let us know, we will post a high quality digital video right here.)

The true nature of the judge’s ire comes through when he screams that the pastor should be dead by now, based on the judge’s prior orders. Apparently, the fact that “the man of God” is still alive is “evidence” of his “perjury” and the pastor does “nothing but lie in this courtroom!” Judge repeatedly screams at the quiet, meek, speechless pastor, “Shut up!” and threatens to make the “man of God” rot in jail for life. He even orders an appointment of a criminal prosecutor for alleged “violations” of the Judge’s order. What is the violation? – The pastor dared to file a complaint against the judge’s decisions and against the issuance of an order of protection against the pastor. Because it is business as usual in the family courts of America, the theatrical performance by this judge is a must see!

The judge went ballistic presumably because he had apparently assumed that pastor Hage published an article in the local on-line news outlet, PutnamLIVE.com about Judge Hage’s late payments to the condominium. The judge was wrong: it was the publisher of PutnamLIVE, who wrote the article, entirely on his own volition. Judge Watkins screams at the pastor, “I will personally make sure that you will never see a free day in your life! You are going to jail!” While the pastor is silent, the Judge repeatedly screams, “Shut up!”

A parishioner, who accompanied the pastor to the court, filed a complaint with the Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Also, as the video has gone viral, the “man of God” is now suing “the Judge who acts like God,” for $5 million.

What makes it different this time, is that there is a video of this Judge’s abuse of power. (Now you know why New York Courts guard themselves from cameras in the courtroom, as if video cameras were machine guns aimed at them.) He acts like a sadistic tyrant, enjoying unlimited power to abuse a litigant. He makes these threats before starting the proceeding, probably mistakenly assuming that the video is not on until he begins the proceeding.

In addition to screaming at pastor Art Hage, Putnam Family Law Judge William M. “Chip” Watkins III will have to answer why he ordered Paul D. Bentley, one of the minister’s parishioners, out of the courthouse.

In his complaint, Bentley says when the bailiff came into the waiting room following Watkins’ screaming tirade, he suggested the bailiff get Watkins “a glass of bourbon and give him 2 Xanax to calm him down.” As the bailiff re-enters the courtroom, Judge Watkins asks the pastor about this man, “Did you bring along a comedian, Mr. Hage?” When Hage replied “He’s my chauffer, sir,” Watkins snidely remarks, “He’s your chauffer!” Then Judge Watkins growled to the bailiff, “Out of the building. I want him out of the building right now. If he smiles, I want him in here to answer what’s so damn funny.”

Hage’s wife, Lillian, alleged he abused both her and their daughters in December 2010. Hage says these claims are absolutely false. Hage said Watkins filed a protective order against him hastily and without merit.

In his moving papers, the pastor wrote:

“My prayer is that you would consider these statements that I have made and act upon them… There is much more that could be said…

All that I am asking is that the words that are embedded on the outside of the Putnam County Courthouse ‘Equal Justice for All’ be adhered to.”

Hage wants an order rescinding the protective order against him. He said he wants a fair and unbiased judge to hear his case. But that, pastor, will take much more than a prayer.

This video is quite educational and has gone viral; make sure it becomes widely known. It is high time the abusive sociopaths in power are put in the spotlight of public scrutiny for what they really are.

___________________________________

Sources:

Watkins Screams At Hage In Court.

Family Law Judge Threatens Putnam County Pastor. PutnamLIVE

http://www.putnamlive.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3310:watkins-screams-at-hage-in-court&catid=74:special-reports&Itemid=112

Video shows Putnam judge yelling at Hurricane pastor in court. State Journal.

http://www.statejournal.com/story/18901989/video-shows-putnam-judge-yelling-at-hurricane-pastor-in-court

Watkins accused of ejecting man from courthouse without cause.

The Record, West Virginia Legal Journal

http://www.wvrecord.com/news/245003-watkins-accused-of-ejecting-man-from-courthouse-without-cause

Family Court Judge and Pastor Feud Caught on Tape in Explosive Rant. The Church Report

http://www.thechurchreport.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=siteContent.default&objectID=157337

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APD4a347bPQ

Family Court Judge