Joanna Tabit
Judge , Circuit Court of Kanawha County
Photo by Rick Lee .
I want to do the best job I can for the people of Kanawha County . I strive to contribute positively to the administration of justice in our state and to be a vital part of our community .”
BY KATLIN SWISHER . As a former board member and 2017 YWCA Women of Achievement honoree , the YWCA ’ s mission , “ Empowering women , eliminating racism and promoting peace , justice , freedom and dignity for all ,” defines Joanna Tabit ’ s approach to not only the legal profession but also to life .
As a Kanawha County Circuit Court judge in Charleston , WV , she strives to carry out that mission as a mentor to young lawyers , which she believes is one of the most critical components to their success . She has also mentored aspiring lawyers during her career as a public and private practitioner and as an adjunct lecturer at her alma mater , West Virginia University ( WVU ) College of Law .
Tabit knows firsthand the importance of mentorship . While she credits former Supreme Court Justice Thomas McHugh , current Justice Margaret Workman and U . S . District Judge Irene Berger as mentors who have provided invaluable guidance to her throughout her career , there was no greater influence in her life than her parents . “ All that my sisters and I are is because of them and the women they raised us to be ,” she says .
Tabit ’ s volunteer work is not limited to mentoring . She has been a member of various professional legal groups , including the West Virginia State Bar Board of Governors and the Young Lawyers Section of the State Bar , board member of the Kanawha County Public Defender ’ s Office , co-chair for the Campaign for Legal Aid , chairperson of the Access to Justice Foundation and District 8 Character Committee of the West Virginia Board of Law Examiners and officer of the Kanawha County Bar Association . She has also served on the board of directors for
several nonprofit organizations , including the YWCA , Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center and Daymark , Inc .
As an attorney , she was a member of the pro bono referral project of the West Virginia State Bar and served as a pro bono attorney for the Civil Legal Assistance Partnership , which provided representation at hearings for victims of domestic violence . Although she had to resign some of these positions upon becoming a judge , serving the greater Kanawha Valley is still a priority for Tabit .
“ Everyone has abilities , talents or experiences that someone else can benefit from ,” she says . “ I get involved in the causes I believe in because it ’ s easy to be inspired when you really care about something .”
Working as a private practice attorney for 22 years prior to becoming a judge , Tabit did not specialize in a particular area of the law . That varied legal experience , especially as a trial lawyer , eased her transition to the bench .
“ I considered myself a trial lawyer first and , when necessary , an appellate lawyer . I ’ ve tried personal injury , product liability , medical malpractice , governmental liability and employment cases . I liked doing a little bit of everything because I was always learning ,” she says . “ This helps me as a judge because I know and understand the law yet also have an appreciation and understanding of the pressures of the practice , and that ’ s important .”
As a Kanawha County Circuit Court judge for the last two and a half years , Tabit ’ s docket includes criminal and civil cases ; magistrate court , family court , municipal court and administrative appeals ; juvenile matters ; and child abuse and neglect cases .
“ Child abuse and neglect cases comprise at least 50 percent of our court ’ s docket and are , in my opinion , the most challenging and important work we do ,” says Tabit . “ The termination of parental rights is the most serious sanction for a parent . It ’ s a death penalty for a parent inasmuch as you are permanently removing the child from his or her parent ’ s life . While in private practice , I had some limited experience with abuse and neglect as a young lawyer , but I didn ’ t appreciate how deeply invested you become in these cases as a judge .”
Every day , Tabit experiences how deeply drugs and abuse affect nearly every facet of her work and her community . The opportunity to help individuals overcome their circumstances and get their lives back on track provides motivation for her to persevere .
“ Sadly , I learned quickly that drugs permeate virtually everything we do . Drugs tragically touch everything — not just the adult felony cases ,” she says . “ I want to do the best job I can for the people of Kanawha County . I strive to contribute positively to the administration of justice in our state and to be a vital part of our community .” •
Tabit and her mentor , Supreme Court Justice Thomas McHugh , in 2017 .
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