BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – House of Delegates member Todd Kirby was sworn in Tuesday by Judge Kirkpatrick as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney.
Delegate Kirby has practiced law for over a decade, serving the communities of Raleigh, Fayette, Summers, and Wyoming County, and having been elected to the WV House of Delegates in 2022.Kirby’s employment was presented for consideration Tuesday morning to the Raleigh County Commission.
“This is Todd Andrew Bridges Kirby; almost everybody knows him, he represents us in the legislature. He’s also been an attorney for 12 years. He’s focused his practice on abuse and neglect proceedings as well as family law,” went the introduction during Tuesday’s session.
“He will be replacing the Honorable Leigh Lefler in the same capacity, and we know that his hiring will strengthen our office, and we’re all very excited about it. So, we would ask that you accept his employment with the Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.”
The Commission passed the motion for Kirby’s appointment, with Commissioner Tolliver expressing characteristic enthusiasm with regard to Kirby’s Wyoming County background. Elizabeth “Beth” Marie Phillips was also approved by the County Commission during the session for appointment as a Legal Assistant with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of Raleigh County.
The swearing in of Delegate Kirby took place on Tuesday afternoon and was facilitated by Raleigh County Circuit Court Judge Kirkpatrick. “It means a lot to me,” the Delegate said of having been appointed to the role of Raleigh Assistant Prosecuting Attorney.
“If you look at the job and the team that [Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney] Ben Hatfield put together, it’s a real honor just to be included among those people. I think that I’m trying to fill some pretty big shoes with Judge Leffler. We’ve got a great team from what I’ve seen so far.I’m highly impressed and very humbled about being invited to join that team.”
Regarding the type of work he would be doing with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Kirby advised that he would be continuing to place emphasis on abuse and neglect cases as he frequently has through his own practice.
“I’ll be helping Dominic and Jimmy with the abuse and neglect cases in Raleigh County,” he said, touching on his own law background and the point during which he began to see abuse and neglect law as a career path for himself going forward.
“Back when I was an intern working for Judge Warren McGraw over in Pineville, in Wyoming County Circuit Court, the majority of the cases that actually went to trial and had contested hearings were abuse and neglect cases,” he said. “I actually fell in love with the process and really admired the prosecutors there that were trying to help children that had been abused or neglected. So, I’ve had a passion for this area of law pretty much since I’ve been in law school.”
Delegate and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kirby confirmed that he would continue his private practice as well as his work with the West Virginia Legislature as he carries out his duties with the Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
