It is impossible to characterise Netflix’s “Until Murder Do Us Part: Soering vs. Haysom” documentary series other than as a mind-boggling and captivating blend of everything that lives up to its title. This is due to the fact that it includes not only audio-visual footage from the archives but also unique interviews with significant figures to shed light on Elizabeth Roxanne Haysom and Jens Soering’s roles in her parents’ horrific double killing on March 30, 1985. Prosecutor James “Jim” Wilson Updike Jr. was among those who would go on to play a crucial role in this story, so if you just want to know more about him, you may do so here.
Who is Jim Updike?
Jim’s interest in our judicial system is said to have begun when he was just a little child growing up in Bedford County, Virginia, and it only grew stronger over time. Although his mother was a homemaker and his father was an electrician, the manner he and his brother Ronald were raised had instilled in him a desire to give back to his people. As a result, he enrolled as quickly as possible at the University of Virginia to complete his undergraduate studies before continuing on to the esteemed William & Mary Law School to obtain his Juris Doctor.
It’s actually where Jim truly honed his fiery, direct, loud, and commanding manner, which undoubtedly helped him transition from being a defence or civil litigator to a prosecutor. Then there is the fact that, in 1979, after only a few years of practise, he was chosen as the commonwealth’s attorney for Bedford County, making him the youngest person to occupy this office ever at the age of 26. Put another way, he had barely been Chief Prosecutor for six years when the horrific Haysom case surfaced, requiring him to travel to London, England, in 1986 in order to bring criminal charges against Elizabeth and Jane.
Jim was also the one who dominated the court during Jnes’ trial in 1990 and Elizabeth’s plea negotiations in 1987, getting them nearly maximum sentences for their heinous crimes. Thus began his relentless ascent to prominence, which was further heightened by the fact that the latter was among the first murder cases in Virginia to be broadcast nationwide, and his campaign for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general. Jim doesn’t seem to be regretting his failed solicitor campaign, though, as he soon had the chance to advance to the position of General District judge for his home Bedford County.
Where is Jim Updike Now?
“My prosecutorial style is no longer applicable,” Jim declared with a mixture of pride and candour as soon as he assumed the bench in July 1995. Had I desired to carry on with that type of work in the courtroom, I would have run for commonwealth attorney again. You fight as a lawyer. A judge listens, then makes a decision. It’s completely unrelated. The challenge with General District Court is that, in addition to handling the sheer number of cases, you also have to be fair and give each person their due. There’s a true equilibrium there. From the viewpoint of a judge, even seemingly insignificant details can differ.
Even yet, Jim was able to bounce back fast and establish a new, positive reputation that has allowed him to retain the title to this day—he is still a proud presiding Bedford Circuit Judge. If we are being really honest, there have been a few occasions over the years where this “liberal judge” has faced criticism for his remarks or final rulings. Nevertheless, he consistently stands by his choices and methods because he understands that there are legal and moral considerations at play. In terms of Jim’s personal life, from what we can gather, he is a 70-year-old family guy who still makes his home in Bedford, where he is surrounded by loved ones at all times.
