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Timothy Sweeney (West Virginia)
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Timothy L. Sweeney is a judge for the Third Judicial Circuit Court, which presides over Ritchie, Doddridge, and Pleasants counties in West Virginia.[1] He was appointed to this position by acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin on December 8, 2010, effective immediately. Sweeney replaced the late Judge Robert L. Holland, Jr.[2] He ran for election in November 2012 and won the right to keep his seat.
Sweeney ran for re-election in 2016.[3] He won the general election on May 10, 2016.
Education
Sweeney received both his undergraduate degree and J.D. from West Virginia University.[2]
Career
Sweeney began his legal career practicing law with the firms of White & Sweeney, Sweeney & Ballard, and the Sweeney Law Firm. He also worked as the general counsel for Pleasants County Bank for nine years. Sweeney became a prosecuting attorney for Pleasants County in 1985 and worked in this capacity until his judicial appointment in 2010.[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 Timothy Sweeney ran unopposed in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 3, Division 1 seat.[3]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 3, Division 1 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 Timothy Sweeney Incumbent | ||
| 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.[4]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote. Term lengths vary by circuit.[4]
Qualifications
To serve on a West Virginia Circuit Court, a judge must be:[4]
- 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.
2012
Sweeney kept his seat on the Third Judicial Circuit Court after defeating Ira M. Haught in the general election on November 6, 2012.[5] He beat Haught with 65.76% of the vote.[6]
- See also: West Virginia judicial elections, 2012
See also
External links
- West Virginia Judiciary: Third Judicial Circuit Judges and Court Information
- West Virginia Judiciary, "Circuit Courts Overview"
- West Virginia Judiciary, "Court Information by County"
Footnotes
- ↑ West Virginia Judiciary: Third Judicial Circuit Judges and Court Information
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The West Virginia Record, "Sweeney appointed to fill Third Circuit judicial vacancy," December 8, 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: West Virginia," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, Declared Results from Primary Election May 8, 2012
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State Election Results
