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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Panel submits five names for Marion judge position

CHARLESTON -- Five names have been submitted to the governor's office for a circuit judge position in Marion County.

The five are Michael J. Aloi, Kristine A. Burdette, William T. Holmes, Kenneth R. Miller and Patrick N. Wilson.

* Aloi is a founding partner of the Law firm of Manchin & Aloi in Fairmont. He and partner Tim Manchin, a member of the House of Delegates, are cousins.

* Burdette is an attorney at Whiteman Burdette in Fairmont.

* Holmes is an attorney with Spilman Thomas & Battle in Morgantown.

* Miller is an attorney at Higginbotham & Higginbottom in Fairmont.

* Wilson is Marion County's prosecuting attorney.

The state's Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission recommending the five after interviews at the end of January. Judge Fred Fox retired last year, leaving the position vacant.

"I truly believe we submitted five really solid candidates," Commission Chairwoman Debra Scudiere said. "They all are very dedicated individuals, and any of them would make a great judge."

Commission member Kent Carper praised Fox, who was first elected circuit judge in 1970 and served a temporary assignment to the state Supreme Court in 1995.

"We found five candidates, but you can't say they are replacing Judge Fox," Carper said. "It is impossible to replace Judge Fox."

Appointed members of the commission include Scudiere of Morgantown, Carper of Charleston, Sam Duncan of Huntington, Bert Ketchum of Huntington, Kenny Perdue of Fairmont, Steve Robey of Charleston, Charles S. Trump IV of Berkeley Springs and Don Wagenheim of Wheeling.

West Virginia University School of Law Dean Joyce McConnell, State Bar President Letitia Chafin, and Kurt Dettinger, designee of Gov. Tomblin, are ex officio members of the commission.

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