Laura Pickens
Laura Pickens was a 2016 candidate for the Eighteenth Family Court Circuit in West Virginia.[1] Pickens lost in the general election on May 10, 2016.
Biography
Pickens earned her bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. She later received her J.D. from the Mississippi College School of Law. Pickens has been an assistant prosecuting attorney for Harrison County since 2006.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Pickens' campaign website listed the following themes for 2016:
| “ |
My name is Laura Pickens, and I'm committed to working hard and serving the citizens of Harrison and Doddridge Counties as your Family Court Judge. Like you, I want to play an active role in making our communities, cities and counties a better place for children and families. I promise to use my skills and experience to serve the citizens of the 18th Judicial Circuit with honesty, fairness, and integrity. I will make sure all the citizens of Harrison and Doddridge Counties will have open access to the Family Court system. I further pledge every person appearing before me will be heard equally and adjudged in a fair and respectful manner. I ask for your vote on May 10. [3] |
” |
| —Laura Pickens (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. Peter Conley defeated Laura Pickens in the general election for the West Virginia Family Court Circuit 18, Division 1 seat.[1]
| West Virginia Family Court Circuit 18, Division 1 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Peter Conley |
50.74% | 9,376 |
| Laura Pickens | 49.26% | 9,104 |
| Total Votes | 18,480 | |
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State, "Election Results Center," accessed May 10, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
Judges of the West Virginia Family Courts are each elected to six- and eight-year terms. Their initial term is six years and every subsequent term is eight years.[5] The elections for this court are nonpartisan contested elections. To serve on this court, a judge must be a state citizen, a circuit resident, at least 30 years of age and have five years of law practice in the state.[6]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ Pickens for Judge, "About," accessed April 29, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Pickens for Judge, "Home," accessed April 29, 2016
- ↑ West Virginia Judiciary, "Family Courts," accessed September 25, 2014
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: West Virginia; Limited Jurisdiction Courts," 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
