Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey
Bridget Cohee
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
Bridget Cohee is a judge for the West Virginia Judicial District 23 in West Virginia.[1] Bridget Cohee won the general election on May 10, 2016.
Biography
Cohee earned her J.D. from the University of Kentucky. She is a managing member for Steptoe & Johnson PLLC's office in Martinsburg.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Cohee participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of local judicial candidates. The following sections display her responses to the survey questions. When asked what non-judicial legal experience qualifies her to be a judge, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | My 15 years of experience at Steptoe & Johnson in Martinsburg—and my years serving our local office as the managing member—have given me the breadth of experience to apply the law and rule efficiently on matters involving civil disputes between individuals, businesses, and the local government. Through my community service, I have come to understand people and the issues in our community. I care deeply about our community and I am eager to serve.[3][4] | ” |
When asked why she was running for this particular court seat, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Friends and colleagues asked me to consider running. The majority of the matters in circuit court involve children's issues, which is the reason I decided to answer the call to public service.[3][4] | ” |
When asked to identify one judge, past or present, who she admires, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Judge David H. Sanders who is retiring from the seat for which I am a candidate.[3][4] | ” |
When asked about her primary concern regarding today's judicial system in her state, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Delay and cost of litigation.[3][4] | ” |
Cohee also offered these additional comments on the survey:
| “ |
Thank you for the opportunity to respond. I hope your sight is helpful to the voters. The election of judges is non-partisan and will be decided during the primary, May 10, 2016. [4] |
” |
| —Bridget Cohee (2016), [3] | ||
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. Bridget Cohee defeated Stephen Kershner and Steven Redding in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 23, Division 1 seat.[1]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 23, Division 1 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Bridget Cohee |
34.44% | 5,920 |
| Stephen Kershner | 33.41% | 5,742 |
| Steven Redding | 32.15% | 5,526 |
| Total Votes | 17,188 | |
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State, "Election Results Center," accessed May 10, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The judges of the West Virginia Circuit Court are elected in nonpartisan elections to serve eight-year terms. Judges must run for re-election when their terms expire.[5]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote. Term lengths vary by circuit.[5]
Qualifications
To serve on a West Virginia Circuit Court, a judge must be:[5]
- a citizen of West Virginia for at least five years;
- a resident of his or her circuit;
- at least 30 years old; and
- practiced in law for at least five years.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ Bridget Cohee for Judge, "Home," accessed April 21, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Ballotpedia's local judicial candidate survey, 2016, "Bridget Cohee's Responses," March 16, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: West Virginia," archived October 3, 2014
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
