CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia’s new Intermediate Court of Appeals has moved one step closer to reality. The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission has forwarded three names to Governor Jim Justice for consideration for appointment to each of the three new court positions.
The court was created by the 2021 session of the legislature and will begin service July 1, 2022.
Following their initial terms to which Justice will appoint them, future vacancies will be filled by the voters.
For the opening 2-½-year term, the JVAC recommended Daniel W. Greear of South Charleston, James J. Rowe of Lewisburg and Thomas E. Scarr of Barboursville.
For the original 4-½-year spot, they suggested Robert J. Frank of Lewisburg, Greear of South Charleston and Deanna Ray Rock of Keyser.
The third seat, for 6-½ years, found the group recommending Donald A. Nickerson, Jr. of Wheeling, Debra Scudiere of Morgantown and Mark Sorsaia of Hurricane.
Greear, a former Kanawha County legislator and judge, was speculated to be a front runner since the court’s creation.
He presently serves as Counsel to House Speaker Hanshaw. He formerly was chief of staff to House Speaker Tim Armstead.
Rowe is a senior status judge who routinely fills in for judges who are otherwise unable to serve due to recusals, illness and other concerns.
Rowe was the subject of considerable speculation when state auditors revealed he was paid more than state law allows for a senior status judge. As a result, the Supreme Court said they changed procedures so it would not happen again.
Scarr is currently the President of the West Virginia State Bar. He practices law in Huntington.
Frank of Lewisburg is known for handling personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights law, divorce and estate planning.
Rock is a Family Court Judge in the 23rd Circuit (Hampshire, Morgan and Mineral). Prior to her legal career, she worked as a Registered Nurse, primarily in the operating room.
Prior to.her election to the bench in 2016, she worked as an attorney in private practice from 2003 to 2016.
Donald A. Nickerson Jr. is an attorney at the Spillman Thomas and Battle law firm in Wheeling and was elected to the Ohio County Commission in 2019.
Debra Scudiere is a former circuit judge for the 17th Judicial Circuit in Monongalia County. She was appointed by Justice in 2019 to fill the vacancy left by Judge Russell M. Clawges Jr. when he retired. She ran for election and was defeated by former assistant county prosecutor and West Virginia University attorney Cindy Scott in 2020.
Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark A. Sorsaia has served as his county’s lead attorney since his 1996 election, serving as an assistant prosecuting attorney in 1988. Now in his seventh term, Sorsaia also ran unsuccessfully for Governor in the 2011 special Republican primary election. He is a past vice president of the West Virginia Association of Counties, has served on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Association, and has served as the chairman of the Executive Committee of the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute.
Justice will now consider the names submitted to him and select one for each position.on the court.