Maynard
Starcher
CHARLESTON -– The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has voted to approve senior status applications for two retiring Supreme Court Justices, six retiring Circuit Court Judges and one retiring Magistrate.
Retired judicial officers who wish to be appointed to serve as Senior Status Justices, Judges or Magistrates must apply for that position to the Supreme Court.
The Court, during Administrative Conference on Dec. 9, voted to approve the applications of Chief Justice Spike Maynard and Justice Larry Starcher for service both as Senior Status Justices and Senior Status Judges. Both Justices are leaving the Court on Dec. 31 at the end of 12-year terms. Maynard was not re-elected, and Starcher did not seek re-election.
Maynard previously served as a Circuit Judge in Mingo County from 1982 to 1996, when he joined the Supreme Court. Starcher previously served as a Circuit Judge in Monongalia County from 1977 to 1996, when he joined the Supreme Court.
The Court on Tuesday also voted to approve the Senior Status applications of six Circuit Judges. They are
* Sixth Circuit Judge John L. Cummings of Cabell County, who did not seek re-election after serving as a Circuit Judge for 19 years, since March 15, 1990.
* Circuit Judge Andrew N. Frye Jr. of the 21st Judicial Circuit of Grant, Mineral and Tucker Counties, who did not seek re-election after serving as a judge for 22 years, since Jan. 1, 1987.
* Circuit Judge John S. Hrko of the 27th Judicial Circuit of Wyoming County, who did not seek re-election after 24 years as a judge, since Jan. 1, 1985.
* Circuit Judge John T. Madden, who did not seek re-election after serving the Second Judicial Circuit of Marshall, Tyler and Wetzel Counties for 19 years, since May 31, 1990.
* Circuit Judge Thomas W. Steptoe Jr., who did not seek re-election after serving in the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties for 11 years, since Jan. 5, 1998.
* Circuit Judge Robert B. Stone of 17th Judicial Circuit of Monongalia County, who did not seek re-election after serving as a judge for 24 years, since Oct. 1, 1985.
And the Court voted to approve the Senior Status application of Ohio County Magistrate Rose M. Humway. Humway has served in Ohio County for 32 years and was not re-elected.