WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

HUNTINGTON -- Now that Cabell Circuit Court Judge David Pancake's retirement has become official, it seems a trio of judges will handle his docket until a successor is appointed.

Pancake said last year he was retiring effective Jan. 31. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has not appointed his replacement yet.

Cabell Chief Circuit Judge Paul T. Farrell told The Herald-Dispatch that he will handle Pancake's caseload this week.

And Monday, West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Robin Jean Davis issued an administrative order saying Senior Status Judge James O. Holliday will preside over Pancake's docket from Feb. 10 to Feb. 18.

Then, Davis proclaimed that Senior Status Judge John S. Hrko will take over the duties until Tomblin appoints a successor. And, if for some reason, Hrko can't fulfill those duties, Holliday will be called back into action.

In December, the state Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission submitted the names of three attorneys to Tomblin to replace Pancake. Those three were Chris Chiles, Cheryl L. Henderson and Paul A. Ryker

Chiles, 58, is Cabell County’s prosecuting attorney and has served in that capacity for nearly a quarter-century. Henderson, 57, and Ryker, 61, are in private practice. Henderson is a partner in the Huntington law firm of Henderson, Henderson and Staples, and Ryker is a sole practitioner in Barboursville.