The following op-ed is written by Brenda Bonecutter, a candidate in the primary for Campbell Co. Family Court judge
Campbell County is my home and residence for thirty years. Living in Fort Thomas with my husband Scott, and our two teenage daughters, Chelsea, and Chloe, I maintain a busy family law practice while remaining active in my community, church, and with my children’s activities and sports.
As a family law practitioner, when I filed my Intent to Run for Campbell Family Court Judge, I was asked “Why are you running” from friends and colleagues alike. The short answer is that this is not just my profession, it is my passion. I have practiced for 25 years in Campbell County and I have helped countless families and children in the court system by my work ethic and commitment to cases. I chose to be a family law practitioner and now seek to continue working for Campbell County families and children as a judge and carry on the legacy of fairness and hard work that current retiring Judge Richard A. Woeste and all the other predecessors in this position. My years of experience in family law are greater than the other candidates and has given me the knowledge, commitment and experience necessary for the position, making me the most qualified candidate.
I graduated from Salmon P. Chase law school in 1997, and I am admitted to practice in all courts in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the State of Ohio, as well as the United States Federal District Courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. I also received collaborative law and guardian ad litem training and have been a GAL for over 20 years. I started my practice as a “general” practitioner but quickly started focusing on family law as there was a great need for this work and I enjoyed it. I began accepting guardian ad litem appointments and taking cases in what is known as the “Dependency, Abuse and Neglect” docket in Campbell County back before there was even a designated Family Court. Protecting children and advocating for the child’s best interest is paramount to family law.
Every child deserves the basic necessities that so many take for granted, including a home free from neglect or abuse, as well as the right to an education. However, every child also deserves a family and a loving home. Family Court serves to protect that sanctity and keep families together. The goal in any dependency, abuse and neglect case is to return child(ren) to parent(s). However, if that cannot happen to protect a child, then other family is sought in order to place kids with a relative such as a grandparent, aunt, cousin, or others. Sometimes, there are no relatives as options, so someone familiar with the child is considered for placement. If necessary, if a child cannot be reunited with a parent, placed with a relative or next of kin, then a loving foster home is sought for finding permanency and even adoption for that child as they deserve a loving environment in which to thrive.
Having represented these child(ren), fathers, mothers, grandparents, relatives, and foster parents in such actions for so many years has prepared me for handling these matters as a judge and to have the proper temperament and compassion to do so. Every person coming to family court deserves compassion and the right to be heard in these important cases. I will approach each case individually for what it is, as every case is different, and every family is different, and every set of facts and circumstances pertain only to that matter.
My family law practice has given me the tools and experience in all aspects of family law issues, in representing clients in dependency, abuse, neglect actions, adoptions, domestic violence, protection orders, divorce, dissolution, custody, child support actions, and all other matters before family court which allows me to be ready from day one to address, handle and protect family issues in all matters. Treating both sides in disputes, clients and my colleagues with respect and integrity has been very important to me as a lawyer and earned me the respect of others in this profession and will be important in the courtroom should you choose me to become your Family Court Judge. I also pledge to rule in a fair, expeditious and compassionate manner to resolve family law cases while upholding the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This is why I seek to serve you and I would be honored to serve the citizens of Campbell County as the next Family Court Judge.