CHARLESTON – A veteran Charleston attorney is throwing his hat into the ring for the vacant Kanawha Circuit Court judgeship.
Dr. Richard Lindsay told The West Virginia Record he plans to file pre-candidacy papers May 15 to run for the seat vacated by Judge Jim Stucky’s recent retirement. Lindsay said he also plans to apply for the temporary seat until the November election.
“I’ve been practicing law for 40 years, and medicine for almost 45,” he said. “I think I have the requisite experience and the bumps and bruises of wins and losses.
Dr. Richard Lindsay
"From the people who have so far indicated an interest, I have more experience than any of them. I’m 68, but healthy. I go to the gym every day. And, I’ve been in the position of actually trying cases. I think that’s important. I don’t have much criminal experience lately, but I have done them in the past.”
Others who have filed papers to run for the seat are House of Delegates Chief of Staff Dan Greear, Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Miller and Charleston attorney Tera Salango.
“I’d also like to give something back and give the benefit of my years of experience to the lawyers trying cases and the people depending on them,” Lindsay said. “I know the trend now is to have younger people in a lot of things. But personally, if I’m having surgery, I’d rather have the older surgeon. When I’m on an airplane, I like seeing a pilot with white hair. And as far as being a judge, I think experience counts for a lot.
“I’ve seen a lot of things. I don’t think there isn’t anything I haven’t seen in practicing law for 40 years, both good and bad.”
Lindsay, who works with his wife Dr. Pamela Tabor Lindsay at Tabor Lindsay & Associates in Charleston. He obtained both his medical and law degrees from West Virginia University. He spent more than 25 years as an emergency room doctor. His son Rich also works at the firm, and he’s running for state Senate.
“I’ll ride his coattails,” Dr. Lindsay said with a chuckle. “He’s definitely a better campaigner than I would be.”
Stucky, who had served as a judge since 1997, hadn’t heard cases since early March because of his health. He submitted his resignation letter seeking disability retirement on April 17 to Gov. Jim Justice. His retirement was official April 30.
As of May 14, Senior Status Judge Thomas Evans III from Jackson County again is presiding over Stucky’s docket. Senior Status Judge David Pancake of Cabell County was hearing those cases since April 23 when he took over from Evans, who had heard them from March 19.
The notice from the state Judicial Vacancy Advisory Council seeking temporary replacements for Stucky was issued April 30, and applications for the temporary seat are due to the governor’s office by June 4. Interviews will take place June 21, according to JVAC Chairwoman Debra Scudiere, an attorney at Kay Casto & Chaney in Morgantown. Then, the JVAC will provide a list of recommendations to Justice, who then will make an appointment to hold the seat until the November election.
The filing period for a spot on the November ballot will open in August.