Walker Explains 2008 Supreme Court Bid

After filing pre-candidacy papers Sept. 25, Elizabeth Walker discussed her desire to run for the Supreme Court next year on MetroNews' Talkline.

A labor and employment lawyer in Charleston, Walker said her goal is to ensure that West Virginia's highest court is fair and impartial.

"The impediment that we have seen by a court that is unpredictable, that can tend toward judicial activism at times, I think just stands in the way of progress, stands in the way of jobs, stands in the way of opportunities for everyone," Walker told host Hoppy Kercheval.

Kercheval asked whether either of the justices whose seats are up in 2008 have contributed to that. Elliot "Spike" Maynard has already launched his re-election campaign, while Larry Starcher has not announced his plans for next year.

"I am talking about judges who have written in their opinions, and Justice Starcher has been one, (and) others throughout the time that I certainly have experienced, that have been open to say that they are not of a mind to treat everyone who comes before the court fairly," Walker said. "That's individuals, that's criminal defendants, that's companies."

Walker also said she sees the judiciary as "a branch of government with a limited role."

"The Legislature has its role as creating laws, certainly the executive branch in promoting policies or any agenda," she told Kercheval. "The Supreme Court is not there to, in my view, support a particular agenda, other than offering a court system where everyone is treated fairly."

MetroNews also offers audio.

Walker is with Bowles, Rice, McDavid, Graff & Love. Her family operates Walker Machinery Co., a distributor of construction, mining and forestry equipment and the sponsors of the "Coal Keeps The Lights On" ad campaign.

The only Republican among five precandidates for Supreme Court, Walker is also considered along with Maynard to be the pair in that race that can expect heavy support from Don Blankenship, the Massey Energy Co. chief.

(Update: Kercheval heralds Walker and Maynard as a "conservative dream team" in his online column today. He also notes that unless a second Republican enters the race, state GOP Chairman Doug McKinney plans to cross party lines and vote for Maynard in November.)