Judge Harbison (right) swears in newly elected District Judge James A. Payne, Jr. (left) while wife Jill Payne (middle) holds the Bible.
January 3, 2019 - An investiture ceremony was held Thursday, January 3, 2019 in the 273rd District Courtroom for newly-elected Judge, Honorable James A. Payne, Jr. with a courtroom full in attendance.
Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison started the ceremony saying, "I'm so honored that Judge Payne asked me to do this today." Judge Harbison then invited Clint Porterfield, County Auditor, to give an invocation.
She recognized elected officials present at the ceremony: Shelby County District Attorney Stephen Shires, SC District Clerk Lori Oliver, Shelby County Clerk Jennifer Fountain, SC Pct 1 Commissioner Roscoe McSwain, SC Sheriff Willis Blackwell, SC Tax Assessor/Collector Deborah Riley, City of Center Mayor David Chadwick, City of Center Mayor Pro Tem Leigh Porterfield, City of Center Manager Chad Nehring, Former County Judge Rick Campbell, Sabine County Sheriff Tom Maddox, District Attorney from Sabine and San Augustine Counties Kevin Dutton, and San Augustine County Judge Jeff Boyd.
Judge Harbison invited Judge Payne's wife, Jill, to hold the Bible as the pledge was recited, "I, James A. Payne, Jr., do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of the 273rd Judicial Judge of the State of Texas and will to the best of my ability protect, preserve, and defend the constitution and the laws of the United States and of this State so help me God."
From left: Charlotte Markowski, Jennifer Figge, James Payne, James Allen Payne, District Judge James "Jim" Payne, Maddie Payne, and Jill Payne.
After being sworn in, Judge Payne gave thanks to his family and recognized family members in attendance - cousins Polly Montemayor, Jeannie Gaines, and Emily Glass; sisters Jennifer Figge and Charlotte Markowski; and children James and Maddie Payne; and father James Allen Payne. He gave special recognition to his wife, Jill, "Thank you for everything you've done for me. I've got the best wife of all the wives. I would literally not be here in this position today if it were not for my wife Jill."
Judge Payne then shared a story about his father which is the man he is always trying to emulate. He had just learned recently that his father representing Sabine County along with Bob Fairchild representing Shelby County and Charles Mitchell representing San Augustine County were the three attorneys who traveled to Austin to testify in front of the legislature about the need to form the 273rd Judicial District Court.
After sharing a few more stories with the audience about his time in the justice system, he said, "I'm very happy that I get to stay in the courtroom but serve on the bench. This is all I want to do... and hopefully I get to serve the remainder of my career here."
He finished by sharing a quote attributed to Socrates - “Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.” He said that is what he is going to aspire to do and he appreciates everyone giving him the opportunity. He plans to follow the quote with humility and East Texas common sense as well.
