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Robert Irons
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.
Robert A. Irons was a judge for the Thirty-First Judicial Circuit, which presided over Monroe and Summers counties in West Virginia before it was eliminated in 2025.[1][2] He was first elected to the court in 1992.[3]
Irons ran for re-election in 2016.[4] Robert Irons won the general election on May 10, 2016.
Education
Irons received his undergraduate degree from Marshall University and his J.D. from the Washington and Lee University School of Law.[5]
Career
Before his election to the court in 1992, Irons practiced law for 12 years and served as a prosecutor.[3]
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 Robert Irons defeated Kent Hellems in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 31 seat.[4]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 31 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Robert Irons Incumbent |
54.79% | 3,989 |
| Kent Hellems | 45.21% | 3,292 |
| Total Votes | 7,281 | |
| 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.[6]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote. Term lengths vary by circuit.[6]
Qualifications
To serve on a West Virginia Circuit Court, a judge must be:[6]
- 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: Thirty-First Judicial Circuit Judges and Court Information
- West Virginia Judiciary, "Circuit Courts Overview"
- West Virginia Judiciary, "Court Information by County"
Footnotes
- ↑ West Virginia Judiciary: Thirty-First Judicial Circuit Judges and Court Information
- ↑ West Virginia Judiciary, "CIRCUIT COURTS TRIAL COURTS OF GENERAL JURISDICTION," accessed July 9, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Register-Herald.com, "Irons seeks third term as circuit judge," February 28, 2008 (dead link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ Martindale.com, Judge Profile: Robert A. Irons
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 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
