Tia Coode
Tia Coode was a 2016 candidate for the Twenty-Fourth Family Court Circuit in West Virginia.[1] She was defeated in the general election on May 10, 2016.
Biography
Coode earned her bachelor's degree from Fairmont State College. She later received her J.D. from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Coode has been a public defender with the Twenty-Third Judicial District Public Defender Corporation since 2008.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Coode's campaign website listed the following themes for 2016:
| “ |
Divorce and child custody are issues that impact our community on a daily basis. It is something that may have affected a friend, a loved one, or even yourself. The Judge we entrust as a community to make a just decision in the lives of children and parents needs to exemplify compassion, selflessness, respect and fairness. As a divorced parent, Tia is able to sympathize with you about how emotional, stressful and frightening a family court case can be. When Tia is elected, she will treat every case that comes before her as the most important case she has ever heard because, to you, it IS the most important case. It is about your family, your children, your future. Tia will treat you with respect, compassion and, above all, fairness. By casting your vote for Tia on May 10th, you will elect a Family Court Judge who pledges to follow the law; appoint competent mediators, counselors and guardian ad litems; respect all who enter the courtroom; and, above all, strive to always put the best interests of children, before any other. [3] |
” |
| —Tia Coode (2016), [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 Sally Jackson defeated Christine Glover and Tia Coode in the general election for the West Virginia Family Court Circuit 24, Division 2 seat.[1]
| West Virginia Family Court Circuit 24, Division 2 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Sally Jackson Incumbent |
39.11% | 10,446 |
| Christine Glover | 33.61% | 8,975 |
| Tia Coode | 27.28% | 7,285 |
| Total Votes | 26,706 | |
| 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.[4] 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.[5]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Facebook, "Tia Coode for Judge," accessed April 29, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 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
