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Jeff Cramer
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Jeff Cramer is a judge for the Second Judicial Circuit, which presides over Marshall, Wetzel, and Tyler counties in West Virginia. He was appointed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in June 2015 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mark A. Karl.[1]
Re-elected in 2016, Cramer is serving an eight-year term that expires on December 31, 2024.[2]
Biography
Cramer received both his bachelor's degree and J.D. from West Virginia University.[1]
Career
- 2015-2024: Judge, Second Judicial Circuit
- 2005-2015: Prosecutor, Marshall County
- 1999-2005: Assistant prosecutor, Marshall County
- 1997-1999: Attorney, Berry, Kessler, Crutchfield & Taylor[1]
Campaign themes
2016
Cramer's campaign website included the following themes for 2016:
| “ |
For nearly 20 years, Judge Jeff Cramer has worked in the communities of and served the citizens of Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler counties. Until being appointed judge, he served in the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office for 16 years as a prosecutor, and the last 10 years as the chief prosecutor. He has served as special prosecutor many times in Wetzel and Tyler counties. As prosecutor, Jeff worked hard to keep our communities safe. He fought all the way to the Supreme Court in Charleston to put a convicted child molester back in prison and traveled to Morgantown to convict a man who murdered our Dallas, W.Va., postmaster. Jeff did whatever it took to make sure justice was served. But his best work may have been right here at home. Jeff was a founding member of the Marshall County Drug Task Force, working with the task force closely and successfully securing the first three wiretaps in the state of West Virginia in more than two decades. This led to the prosecution of more than 15 heroin and prescription drug dealers from California to Pittsburgh to Moundsville. Judge Cramer has a proven track record of being tough but fair as a prosecutor, as evidenced by the numerous criminal defense lawyers supporting his campaign to remain judge. [3] |
” |
| —Jeff Cramer (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 Jeff Cramer defeated John Artimez in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 2, Division 1 seat.[2]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 2, Division 1 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jeff Cramer Incumbent |
61.49% | 5,508 |
| John Artimez | 38.51% | 3,450 |
| Total Votes | 8,958 | |
| 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
- Courts in West Virginia
- West Virginia counties
- Judicial selection in West Virginia
- Local trial court judicial elections, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 West Virginia Judiciary, "Second Judicial Circuit Judges and Court Information," accessed February 19, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Keep Jeff Cramer, "For the Record," accessed March 30, 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
