H.L. Kirkpatrick

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H.L. Kirkpatrick

Candidate, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

Tenth Circuit Court

Tenure

Present officeholder

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Next election

May 12, 2026

Education

Bachelor's

University of Kentucky

Law

West Virginia University

Contact

Campaign website

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H.L. Kirkpatrick (also known as Kirk) is a judge of the Tenth Circuit Court in West Virginia.

Kirkpatrick is running in a special election for judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. He is on the ballot in the special general election on May 12, 2026.^[source]

Kirkpatrick completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kirkpatrick received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and his J.D. from the University of West Virginia College of Law.

Elections

2026

See also: West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals elections, 2026

General election

The general election will occur on May 12, 2026.

Special general election for Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

Incumbent Gerald M. Titus III (Nonpartisan), Laura Faircloth (Nonpartisan), Todd Kirby (Nonpartisan), H.L. Kirkpatrick (Nonpartisan), and Martin Sheehan (Nonpartisan) are running in the special general election for Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on May 12, 2026.

		Candidate
		Gerald M. Titus III (Nonpartisan)
		Laura Faircloth (Nonpartisan)
		Todd Kirby (Nonpartisan)
		H.L. Kirkpatrick (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Martin Sheehan (Nonpartisan)

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Endorsements

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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. Incumbent H. L. Kirkpatrick III ran unopposed in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 10, Division 2 seat.

West Virginia Judicial Circuit 10, Division 2 General Election, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
H. L. Kirkpatrick III Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	15,283
Total Votes		15,283
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State, "Election Results Center," accessed May 10, 2016

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

H.L. Kirkpatrick completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kirkpatrick's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Judge H. L. “Kirk” Kirkpatrick is a lifelong West Virginian and experienced jurist running for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, with a decades-long career spanning private legal practice and nearly 30 years as a Circuit Court judge in Raleigh County. After earning degrees from the University of Kentucky and West Virginia University College of Law, he built a broad legal background handling family, civil, and criminal cases, including federal court work and numerous jury trials. Appointed to the bench in 1995, he presided over thousands of cases, including high-profile trials, and became known for fairness, composure, and a strong emphasis on mediation and resolution. Beyond the courtroom, he contributed through initiatives like a juvenile drug court program, the Fatality Review Committee, and the Judicial Investigation Committee. Now serving in senior status, Judge Kirkpatrick seeks to continue his commitment to impartiality, integrity, and public service as a justice on the state’s highest court.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Experience Matters for the Supreme Court - Judge Kirkpatrick has spent more than 30 years on the bench handling thousands of cases across civil, criminal, and family law. His experience includes complex, high-stakes trials and appellate-level issues, providing the depth of judgment required for service on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
• Fair, Impartial, and Independent Judiciary - Throughout his career, Judge Kirkpatrick has focused on applying the law as written, without regard to public pressure, politics, or the parties involved. His approach emphasizes fairness, respect for all individuals in the courtroom, and a commitment to maintaining judicial independence.
• Service to the People of West Virginia - Judge Kirkpatrick’s work reflects a long-standing commitment to public service, both in and out of the courtroom. From presiding over difficult cases to leading programs like Juvenile Drug Court, his focus has been on serving communities, addressing real-world challenges, and ensuring the justice system works for the people it serves.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Judge Kirkpatrick is most passionate about the fair and consistent application of the law across areas that directly affect people’s lives, including the administration of justice in criminal cases, the resolution of family and child welfare matters, and ensuring access to a fair process in civil disputes. Throughout his career, he has also been deeply engaged in issues surrounding substance abuse and its impact on communities, particularly through his work with Juvenile Drug Court. More broadly, he is committed to maintaining a judicial system that is impartial, independent, and grounded in the rule of law, ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly under the law regardless of circumstance.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.

See also

2026 Elections

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Government

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Candidate

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

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Footnotes

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