CHARLESTON – The state Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission has released a list of 19 applicants seeking to fill a seat on the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals created by the resignation of Donald A. Nickerson Jr.
Gov. Jim Justice will appoint one judge for a term of six-and-one-half years, concluding on Dec. 31, 2028.
The following individuals applied: Boone County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Browning, Charleston attorney Nicole Cofer, Kanawha Family Court Judge Jim Douglas, Lewisburg attorney Robert Frank, Charleston attorney Jace Goins, former Clarksburg Mayor Edward Ryan Kennedy, Chanin Krivonyak, former gubernatorial chief of staff Charles Lorensen, Chief Administrative Law Judge for the state Board of Review for Unemployment Compensation Appeals Parween Sultany Mascari, Wheeling attorney Elgine McArdle, retired Circuit Judge James J. Rowe, Charleston attorney Mychal Sommer Schulz, former Circuit Judge Debra Scudiere, Wheeling attorney Martin Sheehan, Putnam County Prosecutor Mark Sorsaia, Wood Family Court Judge Darren Tallman, Charleston attorney Harry Taylor, Summersville attorney Gregory Tucker and Charleston attorney Charles “Rusty” Webb.
Gov. Jim Justice
| State of West Virginia
Douglas, Kennedy, Schulz, Sheehan, Tallman, Taylor and Tucker also previously applied for seats on the Intermediate Court of Appeals last year. Cofer, Frank, Lorenson, Rowe and Sorsaia also had applied for the recently filled seat on the state Supreme Court.
According to the governor’s office, interviews will be conducted by the JVAC later this week.
The court is set to begin July 1. Dan Greear from South Charleston and Thomas Scarr from Barboursville are the other two judges. The swearing in ceremony had been scheduled for May 1.
The new court, which was created during last year’s legislative session, will hear appeals of civil cases, family courts except domestic violence cases, state agencies or administrative law judges and workers’ compensation appeals.
Nickerson had been appointed to the new court late last year, but he submitted his resignation last month, citing family concerns.