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Amy J. Swisher

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Amy J. Swisher

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Prior offices
Nineteenth Family Court Circuit

Education

Bachelor's

Fairmont State College

Law

West Virginia University

Contact

Personal website

Amy J. Swisher is a former family court judge for the Nineteenth Family Circuit in West Virginia. She first joined the bench in January 2009.

Swisher ran for re-election in 2016.[1] She lost in the general election on May 10, 2016.

Biography

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Swisher earned her B.S. in business administration from Fairmont State College. She later received her J.D. from West Virginia University. Swisher was a private practice attorney prior to her election to the court.[2]

Campaign themes

2016

Swisher's campaign website listed the following themes for 2016:

“
  • Judge Swisher is tough on drugs. She has been a pioneer in Marion County Family Court by drug testing in cases where drugs may be a factor.
  • Judge Swisher has pioneered appointing a Guardian Ad Litem (an attorney who represents the child's best interests) to children who are involved in disputed child custody cases. This gives the children a voice, while protecting them from the pressures of coming to court. It also is the judge's window into the life of the child that can be seen from many perspectives, including other family members and friends, schools, etc.
  • Judge Swisher is sensitive to family scheduling as well as to family safety. Judge Swisher realizes that it is difficult for parents to arrange for child care on a moment's notice when school is canceled. Judge Swisher realizes that not everyone in the county lives in town, and often times it is hazardous or even impossible for many to be out on the roads to get to court. Judge Swisher takes all of this into consideration when making the decision to cancel court due to inclement weather. She feels that there is nothing worth jeopardizing a life.
  • Judge Swisher is strictly enforcing support obligations, including sanctions in the form of incarceration. Many families who have not been receiving support for many years are now receiving funds.
  • Judge Swisher has one of the biggest Family Court dockets in the state. Most cases are now being set initially in 45-60 days which is unprecedented in this county. Judge Swisher also holds hearings on emergency issues very quickly, so that the parties and the children are protected.
  • Judge Swisher has a child with special needs, enabling her to understanding the increased challenges faced by parents of a child with special needs.
  • Impartial and fair, but sensitive to the needs of each individual case.

[3]

”
—Amy Swisher (2016), [4]

Elections

2016

See also: West Virginia local trial court judicial elections, 2016

West Virginia held general elections for county judicial offices on May 10, 2016. This date coincided with partisan primaries for statewide and federal offices. The 2016 election was the first nonpartisan election for the state's judicial seats since statehood in 1863. Learn more about this change here. Candidates interested in filing for the election submitted paperwork by January 30, 2016. Susan Riffle defeated incumbent Amy Swisher in the general election for the West Virginia Family Court Circuit 19 seat.[1]

West Virginia Family Court Circuit 19 General Election, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Susan Riffle 69.91% 10,545
Amy Swisher Incumbent 30.09% 4,538
Total Votes 15,083
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State, "Election Results Center," accessed May 10, 2016

Selection method

See also: Nonpartisan election of judges

Judges of the West Virginia Family Courts are each elected to six- and eight-year terms. Their initial term is six years and every subsequent term is eight years.[5] The elections for this court are nonpartisan contested elections. To serve on this court, a judge must be a state citizen, a circuit resident, at least 30 years of age and have five years of law practice in the state.[6]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
  2. ↑ Judge Swisher for Family Court, "About," accessed April 29, 2016
  3. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  4. ↑ Judge Swisher for Family Court, "Issues," accessed April 29, 2016
  5. ↑ West Virginia Judiciary, "Family Courts," accessed September 25, 2014
  6. ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: West Virginia; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," archived October 3, 2014

West Virginia courts

Federal courts:

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia

State courts:

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia • West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals • West Virginia Circuit Courts • West Virginia Family Courts • West Virginia Magistrate Courts • West Virginia Municipal Courts

State resources:

Courts in West Virginia • West Virginia judicial elections • Judicial selection in West Virginia






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