West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals issued the following announcement on Sept. 11.
Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit (Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties) Chief Judge Michael D. Lorensen has appointed Arthena Roper to serve as a Magistrate in Jefferson County. She will replace Magistrate Mary Paul Rissler, who will retire on November 29, 2019.
Ms. Roper was elected to the Jefferson County School Board in 2018. She announced her resignation from the Board on Monday, Sept. 9. She is a published author who has master’s degrees in Public Administration as well as Teaching and Educational Leadership. She served for more than a decade as an Assistant Professor for the West Virginia University Extension Service. She lives in Charles Town with her husband and their two sons.
“Judge David Hammer and I thank Magistrate Rissler for her twenty-five years of dedicated service to the residents of Jefferson County and the Rule of Law,” Judge Lorensen said. “We are convinced that with Ms. Roper’s record of academic achievement, history of community service, and calm but firm demeanor she will excel in the position of Magistrate.”
Magistrates use their training and sound judgment to oversee the application and
enforcement of state laws, municipal laws, and court procedures. Magistrates issue emergency protective orders in cases involving domestic violence, hear misdemeanor cases and conduct preliminary examinations in felony cases. In criminal cases they issue and record affidavits, complaints, arrest warrants, and search warrants, as well as set bail and make decisions concerning proposed plea agreements, the collection of courts costs, cash bonds, and fines.
Ms. Roper will join Magistrate Gail Boober and Magistrate Vicki D’Angelo in serving all of Jefferson County.
Original source can be found here.
