The bashing of former Clark County Superior Court Judge Edwin Poyfair on The Columbian’s editorial pages has been disappointing to see. After reading the May 12 “Cheers & Jeers” editorial and two recent negative letters, I want to give my take on the man. When I worked at the Clark County Superior Court Clerk’s office in 2007-08, I clerked several adoption hearings that came before Poyfair. Each time, he made it a special occasion and a pleasurable experience for couples to adopt a child into their family. There were several times that photographs were taken with the new parents, the child(ren) and the judge after the hearings.
In the short time I knew and worked with Poyfair, he always treated me with kindness and respect as he did with those who came before him in his courtroom during the hearings that I clerked. Regarding the cases referred to in these letters, there may have been something that prompted the judge to respond the way he did. Judges don’t chastise people without a reason.
I hope Poyfair enjoys his retirement and feels good about his two decades of fine service to our county.
Rob Kelly
Vancouver
