Oct. 26, 2009
Former TV Anchor Brown on ‘Short List’ for Kanawha Judicial Appointment
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Former WSAZ TV news anchor and investigative reporter, Kathy Brown, made the short list for potential appointment to a Kanawha County judgeship.
“I am honored and humbled to be among those selected for consideration to fill the seat to be vacated by Irene Berger,” Brown said. “ I am positive she will be confirmed to the federal bench.”
Noting that Kanawha County has the highest caseload in the state, Brown continued, “ I commend the governor’s office for starting this process early to lessen the impact of Judge Berger leaving the bench. I believe whichever of us is selected will have an opportunity for a smooth transition thereby continuing to provide the outstanding public service that’s been delivered by Judge Berger to the citizens of Kanawha County.”
Brown believes that her broadcast-journalism career blends well with law, and, a judge’s responsibilities, as they involve helping people.
“Having spent a lifetime of balancing and listening to all sides of a story, I have tried as a journalist to be fair,” Ms. Brown said, adding that somewhat comparably, a judge “listens to both sides, applies and interprets the law.”
Although neither of us could quickly point to a journalist who became an attorney and later a judge, Brown postulated “there are judges who dabbled in journalism.” Actually, HNN found the reverse: A judge who went from the bench to CNN, 20/20/ Court TV and Fox News. Her name, Catherine Crier.
For Brown, “when I anchored, I did almost all of my own writing,” alluding that meant despite having the work of reporters available, she often checked her own sources to verify the story. “Anything that came out of my mouth was generally written by me.”
The attorney explained that many viewers still “do not understand the nature of television” news preparation, referring to perceptions that the face in front of the camera merely “reads” what others report. Even with the large news organizations, the anchor position often carries with it managing editor responsibilities. “They still want to have a hand in [what they air], even if it’s to call and confirm has told you. If you want to be an incredible anchor, that is what you do: Call your own contacts… and follow up [on the prior reporting]. I don’t think a lot of people realize that about television.”
Revealing that she went from journalist to attorney as a way of “helping people,” she observed that the by sitting in a courtroom daily, you comprehend that a “judge handles a series of problems. As a judge, you resolve people’s conflicts. Not everybody may be happy at the end of the day, but at least something has been resolved. That’s the main thing you have to do, get a resolution, and not let something drag on and on and on.”
Having move from news reporter to attorney, Brown said, she’s now “more involved with people’s lives that’s what I totally enjoy practicing law every day. You can do something to help people [although] sometimes it takes a couple of years.”
An attorney counsels people too so that they realize [the legal consequences] of what’s going to happen. So does the one on the bench in the robe.
“A judge makes the necessary to be made rulings, and folks can decide whether they want to continue forward or take a different path. A lot of times judges help bring quicker resolution,” such as motivating and intonating them to realize “this is probably how this will end up, so let’s stop this right now and agree to disagree or to figuratively split the baby in half (i.e. share custody) by coming to a meeting of the minds. For most people that’s what they want,” Brown explained.
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Former TV Anchor Brown on ‘Short List’ for Kanawha Judicial Appointment
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Former WSAZ TV news anchor and investigative reporter, Kathy Brown, made the short list for potential appointment to a Kanawha County judgeship.
“I am honored and humbled to be among those selected for consideration to fill the seat to be vacated by Irene Berger,” Brown said. “ I am positive she will be confirmed to the federal bench.”
Noting that Kanawha County has the highest caseload in the state, Brown continued, “ I commend the governor’s office for starting this process early to lessen the impact of Judge Berger leaving the bench. I believe whichever of us is selected will have an opportunity for a smooth transition thereby continuing to provide the outstanding public service that’s been delivered by Judge Berger to the citizens of Kanawha County.”
Brown believes that her broadcast-journalism career blends well with law, and, a judge’s responsibilities, as they involve helping people.
“Having spent a lifetime of balancing and listening to all sides of a story, I have tried as a journalist to be fair,” Ms. Brown said, adding that somewhat comparably, a judge “listens to both sides, applies and interprets the law.”
Although neither of us could quickly point to a journalist who became an attorney and later a judge, Brown postulated “there are judges who dabbled in journalism.” Actually, HNN found the reverse: A judge who went from the bench to CNN, 20/20/ Court TV and Fox News. Her name, Catherine Crier.
For Brown, “when I anchored, I did almost all of my own writing,” alluding that meant despite having the work of reporters available, she often checked her own sources to verify the story. “Anything that came out of my mouth was generally written by me.”
The attorney explained that many viewers still “do not understand the nature of television” news preparation, referring to perceptions that the face in front of the camera merely “reads” what others report. Even with the large news organizations, the anchor position often carries with it managing editor responsibilities. “They still want to have a hand in [what they air], even if it’s to call and confirm has told you. If you want to be an incredible anchor, that is what you do: Call your own contacts… and follow up [on the prior reporting]. I don’t think a lot of people realize that about television.”
Revealing that she went from journalist to attorney as a way of “helping people,” she observed that the by sitting in a courtroom daily, you comprehend that a “judge handles a series of problems. As a judge, you resolve people’s conflicts. Not everybody may be happy at the end of the day, but at least something has been resolved. That’s the main thing you have to do, get a resolution, and not let something drag on and on and on.”
Having move from news reporter to attorney, Brown said, she’s now “more involved with people’s lives that’s what I totally enjoy practicing law every day. You can do something to help people [although] sometimes it takes a couple of years.”
An attorney counsels people too so that they realize [the legal consequences] of what’s going to happen. So does the one on the bench in the robe.
“A judge makes the necessary to be made rulings, and folks can decide whether they want to continue forward or take a different path. A lot of times judges help bring quicker resolution,” such as motivating and intonating them to realize “this is probably how this will end up, so let’s stop this right now and agree to disagree or to figuratively split the baby in half (i.e. share custody) by coming to a meeting of the minds. For most people that’s what they want,” Brown explained.
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