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Ryan Kennedy
Ryan Kennedy was a 2016 candidate for the West Virginia Judicial District 15 in West Virginia.[1] Kennedy lost in the general election on May 10, 2016.
Biography
Kennedy earned his bachelor's degree and J.D. from West Virginia University. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Kennedy is an attorney with Robinson & McElwee, P.L.L.C.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Kennedy participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of local judicial candidates. The following sections display his responses to the survey questions. When asked what non-judicial legal experience qualifies him to be a judge, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I have spent about the last decade representing abused and neglected children which is, unfortunately, over half of what Circuit Court Judges do now, because the drugs are out of control in Harrison County. This experience means that I can hit the ground running on day one and make sure that children are protected from abuse and neglect. Also, my experience volunteering four years with the Harrison County Juvenile Drug Court as well as my work as a criminal attorney has given me a good understand of the drug problem as well as all of the tools in the toolbox that I would have as a Judge to fight that problem.[3][4] | ” |
When asked why he was running for this particular court seat, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I have dedicated my life to helping children. I have four children of my own, aged 9, 7, 4, and 1. My wife and I also had a fifth child who, unfortunately, died at two months old due to severe birth defects. When that happened, I decided to dedicate my life to helping children in my daughter's memory. Circuit Court Judges are the judges who hear abuse and neglect cases and they are also the judges who hear criminal cases, including drug cases. I'm running to protect children and fight drugs.[3][4] | ” |
When asked to identify one judge, past or present, who he admires, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | United States District Judge Irene M. Keeley is someone who I greatly admire for her fairness, sharp legal mind, and strong work ethic. It was an honor to serve as her law clerk.[3][4] | ” |
When asked about his primary concern regarding today's judicial system in his state, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | The system is being overwhelmed with both drug cases and other cases which are directly or indirectly caused by drugs, such as the abuse and neglect cases. As a Judge, I will be willing to use every tool in the toolbox whenever appropriate to fight drugs and protect children.[3][4] | ” |
Kennedy also offered these additional comments on the survey:
| “ |
If you live in Harrison County, please vote for me on May 10th so that we can protect children from abuse and neglect and fight drugs. With my four small children, I am not just fighting for other people's children, I am fighting for my own. I will work as hard as I have to in order to protect children and fight drugs. [4] |
” |
| —Ryan Kennedy (2016), [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. The following candidates ran in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 15, Division 1 seat.[1]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 15, Division 1 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Chris McCarthy |
32.70% | 6,274 |
| D. Andrew McMunn | 24.12% | 4,628 |
| Ryan Kennedy | 13.81% | 2,650 |
| Robert Greer | 13.18% | 2,529 |
| Thomas Kupec | 12.82% | 2,460 |
| Kevin Keeley Griffith | 3.38% | 648 |
| Total Votes | 19,189 | |
| 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
- ↑ Ryan Kennedy for Circuit Judge, "About Ryan," accessed April 19, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Ballotpedia's local judicial candidate survey, 2016, "Ryan Kennedy's Responses," March 16, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 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
