Judicial selection in West Virginia
From Judgepedia
| Judicial selection in West Virginia | |
 | |
| Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia | |
| Method: | Partisan election of judges |
| Term: | 12 years |
| West Virginia Circuit Court | |
| Method: | Partisan election of judges |
| Term: | 8 years |
| West Virginia Family Courts | |
| Method: | Partisan elections |
| Term: | 6 years initially, 8 years subsequent |
| West Virginia Magistrate Courts | |
| Method: | Partisan election of judges |
| Term: | 4 years |
Contents |
Judicial selection in West Virginia primarily consists of partisan elections.
Candidates run in a partisan primary election, then compete against a candidate from the opposite party in the general election.
Supreme Court of Appeals
Justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia are elected every 12 years.
When a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement. The justice then serves the remainder of the unexpired term. The Chief Justice is elected by the other justices and serves a one year term.
In order to serve on the court, one must meet the following qualifications:
- be a citizen of West Virginia for at least five years;
- be at least 30 years of age; and
- spent 10 years in the practice of law. [1]
Circuit Courts
Judges of the West Virginia Circuit Courts also run in partisan elections, but serve eight year terms. Voters residing in the circuit vote on judges for that circuit.
The governor appoints judges to fill a vacancy and the judge fills the remainder of the unexpired term.
In order to serve on the court, one must meet the following qualifications:
- be a citizen of West Virginia for at least five years;
- reside in the circuit;
- be at least 30 years of age; and
- spent five years in the practice of law. [1]
Magistrate Courts
There are 158 magistrate judges in the state, with at least two in each county. Magistrates run in partisan elections every four years.
If a vacancy occurs, Circuit Court judges appoint a replacement. The magistrate must run in the next election if she or he wishes to continuing serving.
Magistrates do not have to be lawyers. [2]
Changes over time
The biggest change to the court system in West Virginia occurred with voters ratified the Judicial Reorganization Amendment in 1976. This amendment united all the state courts, with the exception of the municipal courts, into a single system. [3]
See also
- Campaign finance requirements for West Virginia judicial elections
- State Supreme Court elections
- West Virginia judicial elections
- Courts in West Virginia
External links
- Judicial selection in West Virginia
- American Judicature Society, History of Reform Efforts: West Virginia
- Sunday Gazette-Mail, "State attempts scaled-down candidate funding plot," October 30, 2011
References
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