UPDATED: Friends and colleagues remember Braden as kind, dedicated

Paul E. Braden

The area’s most senior Circuit Judge died Friday at a Corbin hospital following a prolonged battle with stomach cancer, and friends and colleagues are remembering him this week as a kind, patient man who loved his family, supported his community, and showed uncommon dedication to the judiciary.

Whitley 34th Circuit Judge Paul E. Braden died at Baptist Regional Medical Center Friday afternoon. He was 71-years-old. The legacy he leaves behind is impressive; say some of the people who knew him best in his private life and career as an attorney and later prosecutor and judge.

"He was a mentor to me," said Whitley District Judge Cathy Prewitt, a friend and colleague of Braden’s. "He’s one of the best judges I ever appeared before as an attorney … As a judge, I always felt his door was open anytime I needed him. He was always professional and always kind."

Braden, who served in the 34th Judicial District covering Whitley and McCreary Counties, held the position for 15 years. He was about halfway through his eight-year term when he died. He was appointed to the position in 1995 by then Governor Paul Patton and subsequently re-elected twice without opposition.

In February 2009, Braden was appointed as Chief Regional Circuit Judge for the Cumberland Region of Kentucky, which includes Adair, Bell, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, Lincoln, Marion, McCreary, Monroe, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Taylor, Washington, Wayne and Whitley Counties. One of the principal responsibilities of chief regional judges is assigning special judges in cases of conflicts or vacancies and may serve in the absence of any judge within their region. These judges supervise the administrative business of the courts in their region and provide general direction and supervision to the non-judicial personnel assigned to those courts. The vice chief regional judge manages the administrative functions of the courts when the chief judge is unavailable. Regional judges are appointed for two-year terms and may be reappointed. The position is one of prominence and esteem in the judiciary.

Braden was away from the bench for a while in 2009 after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, but returned only to leave again this year when his condition worsened.

Before serving as Circuit Judge, he served as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for the 34th Circuit, and then was Appointed Commonwealth Attorney in 1987. He was also Assistant Whitley County Attorney and then served as a District Judge for Whitley and McCreary Counties.

Braden was well respected throughout Kentucky, always modest and thoughtful on the bench. Consequently, he was tasked to handle some of the Circuit’s most high profile and complex cases during his tenure.

Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said he got to know Braden while he was serving as a trial attorney in federal and state court cases. Harrell served a long career as a Kentucky State Police Detective.

"Paul Braden was a quality person. As far as fairness goes, he was one of the best," Harrell said. "He made a conscious effort to do the right thing no matter what it was, as a judge or a lawyer. He always searched for the right thing to do. He was a true professional, there is no question about that."

Prewitt noted that Braden was near legendary in regards to his preparation for cases that would come into his courtroom, spending endless hours pouring over files in order to understand the complex issues at stake.

"It’s hard to do what he did. It’s very difficult," Prewitt said. "It’s a lot of work, and he would never shy away from taking on the hard cases … death penalty cases and complex civil cases. One of the things all the lawyers knew was that he knew the cases. He was always prepared for court."

Braden was a recognized authority on death penalty cases, in particular, and was a frequent lecturer at judicial conferences. He was named the state’s Outstanding Trial Judge in 2008 by the Kentucky Justice Association.

Braden had a distinguished career as a private attorney before ever becoming a judge. Forcht Group of Kentucky founder and CEO, Terry E. Forcht, remembers fondly the decade in the 1960s and 70s he and Braden were law partners in Corbin before the two parted ways – Braden pursuing his desire to be a judge, Forcht more focused on building a business empire.

"He was always a very reliable and learned law partner. I think very highly of him. He was as honest as the day is long," Forcht said of Braden. "I think he was above reproach in every way … He wasn’t engaged in any other activity. He just loved being a judge and he really lived up to it."

The match appears odd on the surface. Though Braden spent many years in the non-partisan judiciary, he was a well-known Democrat. Forcht is a staunch Republican. But their friendship defied party politics.

Forcht said he always supported Braden’s efforts to retain his seat at Circuit Judge.

"I absolutely supported him. You don’t vote for a party, you vote for a person and Paul Braden was a genuinely kind person," Forcht said. "He decided things the way the law was. He did things the right way. That’s all the matters."

For a full obituary on Braden, see the People Section of this week’s News Journal.

Funeral arrangements were handled by O’Neil Funeral Home in Corbin. Visitation for Braden was held Tuesday at Central Baptist Church. His funeral will be held today at 11:00 a.m.

He will be laid to rest at Sutton-Skinner Cemetery in Woodbine.