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M.J. Ahmed
M.J. Ahmed was a 2016 candidate for the West Virginia Judicial District 10 in West Virginia.[1] Ahmed lost in the general election on May 10, 2016.
Biography
Ahmed earned his B.S. in secondary education from Concord University in 1986. He later earned his J.D. from West Virginia University in 2009. Ahmed has been a judicial law clerk with West Virginia Judicial District 10 since 2009.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Ahmed's campaign website listed the following themes for 2016:
| “ |
For the past seven years I’ve been the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert A. Burnside, Jr., here in Raleigh County. Judge Burnside is an exceptional jurist and has served the citizens of Raleigh County with distinction; as evidenced by the citizens of this county continuing to reelect him. He possesses a brilliant legal mind, and I have been honored to serve at his side. I’ve learned to be a Judge from one of the very best. A study commissioned in 2014 revealed that each current Judge in Raleigh County was doing the work of nearly 2 judges, the 3rd highest rate in the state. That, coupled with the recent additions of the Truancy Court, Juvenile Drug Court and Adult Drug Court have made it more difficult to schedule hearings and reach a resolution to citizens’ pending cases. The people that come before the Circuit Court are often those with very real problems; either from a serious dispute, criminal charge or issues dealing with their children, to name a few examples. All Raleigh county residents deserve a competent and experienced jurist ready to start from day one working actively and tirelessly to handle these matters. I am that candidate, having trained for this job for 7 years now. [3] |
” |
| —M.J. Ahmed (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. The following candidates ran in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 10, Division 4 seat.[1]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 10, Division 4 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Andrew Dimlich |
25.44% | 4,750 |
| Darl Poling | 19.35% | 3,613 |
| Cindy Kiblinger Fernald | 11.98% | 2,238 |
| Russell Wooton | 8.21% | 1,533 |
| M.J. Ahmed | 7.92% | 1,479 |
| Clyde Smith Jr. | 7.19% | 1,342 |
| Christopher Lefler | 7.09% | 1,324 |
| James Brown | 5.79% | 1,081 |
| John Parkulo | 5.30% | 990 |
| Stanley Selden | 1.74% | 325 |
| Total Votes | 18,675 | |
| 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
- ↑ M.J. "Moose" Ahmed for Circuit Judge, "About," accessed April 18, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ M.J. "Moose" Ahmed for Circuit Judge, "Home," accessed April 18, 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
