CHARLESTON - Kanawha County has a new chief magistrate. Joe Shelton was appointed as chief magistrate Jan. 12, replacing Kim Aaron.
Charles King, who is now the chief Kanawha Circuit Court judge, appointed Shelton.
Shelton was a magistrate in the 1970s and '80s, and was reappointed in 2003 following the resignation of Jack Pauley, who ran for sheriff. Shelton was re-elected in 2004.
The chief magistrate has authority over the magistrate court, which hears a variety of cases, from monetary disagreements to bail hearings and issuing arrests warrants.
PERSONNEL FILE: Shelton named chief Kanawha magistrate
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