By STEVEN ALLEN ADAMS
For the Dominion Post
CHARLESTON –Two justices appointed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and one of the first appointees to the new Intermediate Court of Appeals looked to be losing their elections based on early returns Tuesday night.
According to preliminary election results reported to the Secretary of State’s Office, Senior Status Judge H.L. “Kirk” Kirkpatrick was leading in the state Supreme Court Division 1 race with 26,780 votes (33.3%), followed by 27th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Laura V. Faircloth with 19,328 votes (24%).
Justice Gerald Titus III – appointed by Morrisey in November to serve on the state’s highest court and succeed the late Justice Tim Armstead, who died in August due to complications from cancer – had 17,596 votes (21.9%).
Other Supreme Court District 1 candidates include 14th Judicial Circuit Judge Todd Kirby with 11,900 votes (14.8%), and Wheeling attorney Martin “Red Hat” Sheehan with 4,819 votes (6%).
In the Division 2 race for state Supreme Court, Del. Bill Flanigan, R-Ohio, had 46,257 votes at press time, giving him 55.9% of the votes. Justice Thomas Ewing – whom Morrisey appointed to succeed Justice Elizabeth “Beth” D. Walker, who retired effective last June – was second with 36,552 votes (44.1%).
In the race for a permanent seat on the Intermediate Court of Appeals, 11th Family Circuit Court Judge Jim Douglas was leading with 46,720 votes, or 59% of the vote. ICA Judge Dan Greear was second with 32,069 votes, or 40.7% of the vote. Greear is one of the ICA’s original judges, appointed by former Gov. Jim Justice in 2021.
Judicial elections in West Virginia are nonpartisan, and Tuesday’s primary election serves as the general election for judicial races. Official winners of Tuesday’s judicial elections will take office next January.
