Michael Douglas Lorensen
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Michael Douglas Lorensen is a judge for the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, which presides over the counties of Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan in West Virginia.[1] He was appointed to the court by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in November 2012 to replace Gina Marie Groh when she was elevated to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia.[2][3]
Lorensen assumed the bench on December 17, 2012, and was re-elected by voters in 2014.[4][5][6][7]
Lorensen ran for re-election in 2016.[8] Michael Douglas Lorensen won the general election on May 10, 2016.
2014 election
See also: West Virginia judicial elections, 2014
Lorensen ran for re-election to the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit.
Primary: He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on May 13, 2014.
General: He was unopposed in the general election on November 4, 2014.
[9][5]
Education
Lorensen received both his undergraduate degree and his J.D. from West Virginia University.[10]
Career
Before his appointment to the court, Lorensen was a partner with the law firm Bowles Rice in Martinsburg, West Virginia.[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. Incumbent Michael Douglas Lorensen ran unopposed in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 23, Division 5 seat.[8]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 23, Division 5 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Michael Douglas Lorensen Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 15,231 |
| Total Votes | 15,231 | |
| 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.[11]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote. Term lengths vary by circuit.[11]
Qualifications
To serve on a West Virginia Circuit Court, a judge must be:[11]
- 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
- West Virginia Judiciary, "Berkeley County Court Information (Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit)"
- West Virginia Judiciary, "Circuit Courts Overview"
- West Virginia Judiciary, "Court Information by County"
Footnotes
- ↑ West Virginia Judiciary, "Berkeley County Court Information (Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit)," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 WV.gov, Office of the Governor, Earl Ray Tomblin, "Governor Tomblin Appoints Michael Douglas Lorensen Judge for the 23rd Judicial Circuit," November 16, 2012
- ↑ The Journal, "Martinsburg attorney appointed to 23rd circuit," November 16, 2012
- ↑ Herald Mail, "Eastern Panhandle's newest circuit court judge sworn in," December 14, 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Unofficial 2014 Primary Election Results - Statewide," accessed May 14, 2014
- ↑ Shepherd University, "Gina M. Groh '86 named third female circuit judge in the state," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ Judicial selection in West Virginia
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Listing By Office," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ Martindale.com, "Judge Profile: Michael D. Lorensen," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 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
