Holliday appointed as temporary Kanawha judge

CHARLESTON -- A retired Putnam Circuit Judge has been appointed by the state Supreme Court to temporarily fill in for Kanawha Circuit Judge James C. Stucky.

James O. Holliday began hearing cases on Aug. 30 and will continue "until Judge Stucky returns or the Chief Justice deems the assistance is no longer needed," according to the administrative order signed by Chief Justice Robin Davis.

Stucky wrote to Chief Kanawha Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman last week and asked him to arrange for a temporary judge.

Stucky noted he had been out of the office for part of the current term of court because of his diabetes, which has caused him to continue some hearings and trials until September and October, when his docket is already busy.

"I have contacted each of the judges in this circuit and they are unable to handle additional hearings and trials of my case load," Stucky wrote.

Stucky's letter said he anticipates being out of the office for about two months.

Holliday heard cases in Kanawha Circuit Court during the time between Judge Irene C. Berger's appointment to the federal bench and Gov. Joe Manchin naming Kanawha Circuit Judge Carrie Webster as her replacement last year.