Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
James Courrier Jr.
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.
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
2024
James Courrier Jr. is a judge for the West Virginia Judicial District 21 in West Virginia.[1] He was appointed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (D) on January 12, 2016, to succeed Philip B. Jordan.[2] Courrier won a full term in the general election on May 10, 2016.
Biography
Courrier graduated from West Virginia University and the West Virginia University College of Law.[2] Courrier was the Mineral County prosecuting attorney for seven years prior to his appointment to the circuit court. His professional experience also includes working as the assistant prosecuting attorney for Mineral County, an assistant state's attorney for Allegany County, Md., and as a sole practitioner.[2]
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. James Courrier Jr. defeated Jason Sites in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 21, Division 2 seat.[1]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 21, Division 2 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 James Courrier Jr. |
63.79% | 7,500 |
| Jason Sites | 36.21% | 4,257 |
| Total Votes | 11,757 | |
| 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.[3]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote. Term lengths vary by circuit.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on a West Virginia Circuit Court, a judge must be:[3]
- 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
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mineral Daily News-Tribune, "Gov. Tomblin appoints Jay Courrier as judge," January 12, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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
