PICKENS COUNTY — Karen Sanchez Roper was sworn in as the newest Family Court Judge in the 13th Judicial Circuit in a ceremony held recently at the Pickens County Courthouse.
“Any of you that know me know what a dream come true this is for me,” said Roper. “The promise I make to all of you is: I won’t let you down.”
The Honorable John Cannon Few, Justice of the S.C. Supreme Court, administered the oath to Roper in a packed Courtroom 1.
“I can’t tell you all how proud I am of Karen,” said Ken Roper, Roper’s husband and attorney for the county. “When we were living in Charleston, all I wanted to do was come back home to Pickens. Karen wasn’t too thrilled by the idea but eventually she came around.
“She said ‘You seem to think that if we move up there all of our dreams will be realized — but I don’t think that’s going to be the case.’ So, as an officer of the court, this will probably be my last chance to say it: I was right.”
The Rev. Beverly Kelly spoke on the importance of justice and fairness — and the difference between the two — offering up a prayer for guidance and wisdom as Roper undertakes this new chapter in her life and career.
Roper said that many times Family Court is the only court that people have any experience with.
Most people know someone who has gone through a divorce — or have gone through one themselves, she said, adding that when you’re dealing with families, one has to take extra care as it is often one of the most difficult times people are going through.
