2009.02.23
Radford Circuit Courtroom, library have new name
In a ceremony this afternoon, the Radford Circuit Courtroom was named after a judge who heard cases there for nearly 20 years and has a reputation for always being fair and compassionate.
It now bears the name The Hon. Duane E. Mink Courtroom. And, to the surprise of Mink's longtime secretary, Nancy Collins, the law library off the courtroom was named after her.
Collins served as Mink's secretary during 17 years he practiced law in Radford and nearly 20 more while he served as a judge from 1983 to 2003, when he was forced to retire because he turned 70.
She also served for Circuit Court Judge Brett Geisler when he took over the Radford courtroom, and now serves for Circuit Court Judge Joey Showalter, who followed Geisler. Geisler is now based in Carroll County.
Mink, who has a stellar reputation among the attorneys who practiced before him, said whatever success a judge has is due to the attorneys. He also credited the court clerks, the secretaries and the sheriff's offices who he said keep things running smoothly.
All the circuit court judges of the 27th judicial circuit - Showalter, Geisler, Judge Ray Grubbs, Judge Bobby Turk and Judge Colin Gibb - presided over today's ceremony. Mink turned to them and said, "You're doing a swell job."
