History of Reform Efforts: West Virginia
Formal Changes Since Inception
1862Judges of the supreme court of appeals elected by the people to twelve-year terms. Circuit court judges elected to six-year terms 1872
Term length of circuit court judges increased from six to eight years. 1974
Voters ratified the Judicial Reorganization Amendment, effective 1976. The amendment established a unified court system, uniting all state courts except municipal courts into a single system to be supervised and administered by the supreme court of appeals. 2000
Family court created, effective 2002. 2010
HB 4036 created a judicial vacancy advisory commission to assist the governor in filling midterm vacancies on the supreme court of appeals, circuit court, and family court. 2010
HB 4130 created a public campaign financing pilot program for the 2012 supreme court of appeals elections.