Local Family Court Judge Grazed by a Bullet While On Vacation

Kanawha County family court judge Jim Douglas and his partner, Phyllis Veith, were enjoying a meal on a dinner cruise in Portland, OR Monday evening when Douglas said he heard a loud pop and felt a sharp pain in his upper arm. WCHS TV said he thought a champagne cork had popped and hit him, but then he looked down and saw a 9mm slug on the ground. Douglas said the bullet had been fired from the opposite river bank by a presumably random shooter. The bullet penetrated a thick glass window, lost velocity, struck a heavy canvas curtain, then his his arm. The judge said the bullet didn’t break his skin but left a bruise. Local police and EMTs were on scene and treated Douglas’ arm. Douglas said he feels fortunate that he wasn’t seriously hurt in the incident.