Mercer legal, law enforcement communities honor late Judge Knight | News

PRINCETON – Mercer County’s legal and law enforcement agencies convened Tuesday to honor the memory of an attorney, prosecutor, and judge whom they all viewed as both a mentor and a friend.

Tuesday was the birthday of the late District Court Judge David W. Knight, who passed away on February 20 at the age of 85. He was born on September 15, 1935 in Keystone to the late John Mack and Elizabeth Muriel Terry Knight.

Knight graduated from Beaver High School, Concord University, and the West Virginia School of Law. After working in a private practice, he was elected Mercer County District Attorney. He served as the district attorney for 21 years before Governor Gaston Caperton named him one of Mercer County’s district judges. After serving in the bank for 12 years, he served as the chief judge of the county court and, when necessary, directed several courts across the state.

District Court Judge William Sadler’s courtroom was filled with people ready to share their memories of Judge David W. Knight. There was a plaque on the wall in his honor, ready to honor others who honored distinguished members of the legal community. District Court Judge Derek Swope greeted the audience and thanked them for the good turnout in honor of Knight.

Knight was a lawyer, prosecutor, railroad buff, and movie buff, Swope said.

“There are a lot of things you can say about David Knight, but you can’t say all of them,” said Swope. “Today would have been his 86th birthday.”

United States Judge Omar Aboulhosn of the US District Court presided over the opening prayer of the ceremony. During the prayer he spoke of “the masterful way”. Knight acted as an attorney, prosecutor, and judge. Aboulhousn is among the many members of the legal community who have worked with and / or appeared in court with Knight.

“There is no question that we are all better off knowing him and making him a part of our lives,” Aboulhosn said.

County Commissioner Bill Archer was a reporter for a weekly newspaper and later for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

“I moved to Mercer County in 1982 and started hearing the legend of District Attorney David Knight,” said Archer. He remembered an early encounter with Attorney Knight.

“I was at a press conference. I made the big mistake of asking about all the bargains, ”Archer said with a smile. “He replied that I didn’t know anything about the court or anything about what he was doing in any way.”

Archer later said that he remembered how Knight always treated him and others with “full respect.”

Former Sheriff Don Meadows remembered meeting Knight after joining the West Virginia State Police.

“He didn’t miss a trick,” said Meadows. “It’s a shame that not every police officer has the opportunity to stand trial with David Knight.”

Prosecutor David W. Knight prepared himself thoroughly for a trial, and he expected law enforcement officials to be done with investigating a crime.

“He’s got it all planned, and you’d better be ready to investigate,” Meadows said. “He didn’t want any surprises. He was a wonderful man. “

Former Chief Deputy William Gearhart said he was a novice cop when he met Knight. One of their first encounters came after Gearhart answered a phone call about a shooting that turned out to be the murder of two other wounded. The next day Gearhart was called to the prosecutor’s office; Instead of getting into trouble as he feared, Gearhart received advice and reassurance.

“We became really close friends,” said Gearhart. “I can’t count the number of times I’ve called David and asked for advice because he was one of the smartest men I’ve ever known. He went way beyond his job as a prosecutor. He was a mentor to me. He helped me train. I really learned so much and he taught me so much. He could give me such good advice and make me a much better cop. He was more than just a friend to me. “

Attorney John Shott, who is also a former Mercer County’s Legislative Delegate, recalled that Knight was his “unlikely savior.”

After Shott started his legal career in a law firm, he decided to go into business for himself. After his wife explained that their family could be difficult to support, someone suggested they go to Knight and apply for a part-time position with the prosecutor. At that time, the Shott family owned the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, which Knight was at times critical of.

Knight “couldn’t have been kinder,” recalls Shott. “I served and my neck in that position and it has brought me a lot of experience over the next three years.”

Retired District Judge John R. Frazier, who served for 25 years, spent many years of his legal career with Knight.

“David impressed me from the start as a lawyer and prosecutor,” said Frazier. “David was very professional. They knew that he had the most important quality for a prosecutor and later a judge: a sense of justice. He could see if it was a young person doing something stupid as opposed to a hardened criminal. “

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com