CHARLESTON – A dozen people have applied for the open seat on the Kanawha Circuit Court left by the retirement of Circuit Judge Duke Bloom.
The 12 applicants, in alphabetical order, are:
* Stephanie Abraham, general counsel for the West Virginia Department of Education and former attorney for the Logan County Board of Education. She is the wife of Brian Abraham, who is chief of staff and general counsel to Gov. Jim Justice, who ultimately will decide who gets the job.
* Kevin Baker, city attorney for the City of Charleston.
* Harry Clair Bruner Jr., a Charleston attorney who previously ran for the Kanawha County Board of Education.
* Anne Charnock, former Charleston Municipal Judge.
* Nicole Cofer, director of Magistrate Courts Division with the state Supreme Court. She also is the former traffic safety resource attorney for the state Prosecuting Attorneys Institute and formerly worked in the Kanawha County Prosecutor’s office and the state Attorney General’s office.
* Jim Douglas, Kanawha Family Court Judge.
* Jennifer Dowdy Gordon, Assistant Kanawha County Prosecutor.
* Ashlee Hunter, Kanawha County Mental Hygiene Commissioner.
* Matthew Minney, Administrative Law Judge for the state Public Service Commission.
* Adam Petry, Assistant Kanawha County Prosecutor.
* Zoe Shavers, a Charleston attorney.
* Brittany Ranson Stonestreet, Kanawha Family Court Judge.
In addition, five have applied for a vacancy on the 14th Judicial Circuit left by Judge Richard A. Facemire’s retirement. That circuit covers Braxton, Clay, Gilmer and Webster counties.
Those five, also in alphabetical order, are:
* Michael Asbury Jr., a Wallback attorney.
* Betty Gregory, a Grantsville attorney.
* Arthur “Wayne” King, a Clay attorney.
* Jasmine Morton, former Braxton County prosecuting attorney.
* Dwayne Vandevender, current Braxton County prosecuting attorney.
Applicants for both positions will interview August 22 with the state Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission. The JVAC then will submit a list of recommendations to Justice for each position. He can choose one of those on the JVAC list or make his own choice.
