Debra Scudiere
Debra Scudiere was a 2016 candidate for the West Virginia Judicial District 17 in West Virginia.[1] She was defeated in the general election on May 10, 2016.
Biography
Scudiere earned her B.S. from West Virginia University in 1976 and her J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1982. At the time of her 2016 run for office, she was an attorney with Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
| “ |
Service, Fairness and Justice should be the keystones of every Judge's life in and out of the courtroom. Service is what we contribute to the legal profession and to our local community on a regular basis. I have served as the President of The West Virginia State Bar, which is the mandatory licensing agency for lawyers in West Virginia. My work in encouraging high standards among attorneys has led to my involvement in all sorts of committees and many different projects across the state. In my community I contribute my time joyously as a Sunday School teacher. My seven-year-olds keep me grounded and teach me valuable lessons every week. Service to them is no chore at all. Fairness in the law can best be expressed for me in my work as a mediator. Two opposing lawyers have to initially agree on at least one thing: to choose me as their mediator. During the mediation process, I do not favor either position, and I work for sometimes hours on end in an effort to help the parties fashion a resolution that will benefit both points of view, though maybe in a different way for each side. Justice is what I strive for in my law practice every day. I will fight tirelessly for a client in whom I believe, but I will not take one single dishonest step to wrongfully further that client's cause. Almost invariably, my clients understand this, and they realize that true justice in a case will result in both of us being happy to run into each other long after the case has ended. Service, Fairness and Justice have been my guiding stars as a lawyer, and I plan to take those ideals with me when I serve as a Circuit Court Judge in Monongalia County. Your help in that cause will confirm that those high standards are the bright stars we should all be following every day. [3] |
” |
| —Debra Scudiere (2016), [4] | ||
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. Incumbent Phil Gaujot defeated Cindy Scott and Debra Scudiere in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 17, Division 3 seat.[1]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 17, Division 3 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Phil Gaujot Incumbent |
43.12% | 9,367 |
| Cindy Scott | 38.59% | 8,384 |
| Debra Scudiere | 18.11% | 3,934 |
| Write-in votes | 0.18% | 40 |
| Total Votes | 21,725 | |
| 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
- ↑ Information submitted through Ballotpedia's biographical submission form on April 6, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Debra Scudiere for Judge, "Home," accessed April 20, 2016
- ↑ 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
