Mon County welcomes Choose Perri Jo DeChristopher
Jan. 27—Former Monongalia County Prosecutor Perri Jo DeChristopher was sworn-in as Circuit Court docket Choose throughout an investiture ceremony Friday afternoon on the Monongalia County Justice Middle.
DeChristopher was in her second time period as Monongalia County Prosecutor when she was appointed to the bench by Gov. Jim Justice on Dec. 20 to interchange Choose Phillip D. Gaujot, who retired Dec. 31.
In her opening remarks, present Monongalia County Chief Circuit Court docket Choose Cindy S. Scott defined the importance of the investiture ceremony as one of many oldest traditions within the judiciary.
The method, which is used to take a position or set up justices or judges into their new position, gives a possibility to “have a good time new beginnings whereas recognizing the traditions of the previous and permits us to look ahead whereas concurrently honoring those that maintain or have held these esteemed places of work, ” she defined.
“Choose DeChristopher is a welcomed addition to the bench. She has devoted her complete authorized profession to public service. She has led by instance, demonstrating that public service is greater than a job, it is a whole-hearted dedication to creating a distinction within the lives of these residing right here in Monongalia County, ” Scott mentioned.
“Everyone knows that an incredible guardian remembers what it was prefer to be a toddler, an incredible trainer remembers what it was prefer to be a pupil, an incredible chief remembers what it was prefer to be a follower, and an incredible choose remembers what it was prefer to be a lawyer, ” she continued.
“Choose DeChristopher has served the residents of Monongalia County for greater than 20 years and I’m assured that she is now ready to transition into her position as a Circuit Court docket choose, not forgetting what it was prefer to be a younger lawyer.”
Earlier than the gang crammed with native attorneys, legislation enforcement officers, authorities officers, court docket employees, family and friends, DeChristopher took the oath of workplace on a Bible held by her kids, Sydney and Chase Porter. Senior Standing Circuit Court docket Choose Robert B. Stone delivered the oath and her husband, Charles Porter, carried out the robing.
DeChristopher mentioned she was “humbled and honored and greater than a bit emotional ” as she seemed round on the standing-room-only crowd that had gathered in her honor.
“In my profession I’ve all the time had the proper mixture of help and motivation to do my finest. As a younger prosecutor I by no means hesitated to struggle the great struggle, to do what I imagine is true as a result of I knew I used to be by no means alone, ” she mentioned.
“This present day wouldn’t exist, and my profession wouldn’t have existed with out Marcia Ashdown. She was the mentor that each new lawyer wished for, however I bought to have for nearly 20 years.”
“I might like to say that Perri is my protege as a result of I’m older than she is, ” mentioned Ashdown, who served as prosecutor previous to DeChristopher, “however the actuality is I’ve realized a lot extra from her than I feel she ever realized from me, so I am unable to actually make that declare. I’m very proud to know that she thinks nicely of me. She could not be a greater lawyer, she shall be a beautiful choose and she’s going to, I feel, deal with everyone the best way they should be handled within the courtroom and I sit up for seeing her profession proceed on with judgeship.”
DeChristopher mentioned all of the judges she has argued earlier than as an legal professional have proven her that “not all selections are black and white and compassion will not be absent within the courtroom and I’ll take a little bit bit of each single considered one of them onto the bench with me each single day.”
DeChristopher will be a part of present judges Scott and Susan Tucker because the third Circuit Court docket choose for the county. DeChristopher mentioned the truth that the Monongalia County Judiciary is now all ladies has not escaped them and they’re able to make historical past.
As her first official act as choose, DeChristopher swore within the new Monongalia County Prosecuting Lawyer Gabrielle Mucciola, who was chosen to fill DeChristopher’s newly vacant place.
Together with her husband Michael and new child Luca holding the Bible, Mucciola took the oath delivered by her predecessor in what she mentioned was a “bittersweet second.”
Mucciola mentioned she has labored with the prosecutor’s workplace for round 15 years and has served as an assistant prosecutor since 2016.
“I’ve grown up right here beneath the steering of fantastic attorneys, ” she mentioned. “I’m humbled and excited to start this chance and I sit up for serving the residents of Monongalia County.”