Chris Chiles

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Chris Chiles was a circuit court judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which presides over Cabell County in West Virginia.[1] He was appointed to the court by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and assumed office on February 3, 2014.[2] He was elected in November 2014 to serve out the remainder of former Judge David M. Pancake's eight-year term, which expired in 2016.[3][4] He left office after retiring October 31st, 2023.
Chiles won re-election in the general election on May 10, 2016.[5]
Education
Chiles received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law.[6]
Career
Before his appointment to the court, Chiles served as a prosecuting attorney for Cabell County for over thirty years.[7]
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 Chris Chiles ran unopposed in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 6, Division 3 seat.[5]
West Virginia Judicial Circuit 6, Division 3 General Election, 2016 | ||
---|---|---|
Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
![]() |
99.60% | 15,550 |
Write-in votes | 0.4% | 63 |
Total Votes | 15,613 | |
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.[8]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote. Term lengths vary by circuit.[8]
Qualifications
To serve on a West Virginia Circuit Court, a judge must be:[8]
- 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.
2014
Chiles defeated Cheryl Henderson in the Democratic primary on May 13, 2014, with 66 percent of the vote. He was unopposed in the general election.[4]
See also
External links
- West Virginia Judiciary: Sixth Judicial Circuit Judges and Court Information
- West Virginia Judiciary, "Circuit Courts Overview"
- West Virginia Judiciary, "Court Information by County"
Footnotes
- ↑ West Virginia Judiciary: Sixth Judicial Circuit Judges and Court Information
- ↑ WSAZ.com, "Chris Chiles Named Cabell County Circuit Court Judge," February 4, 2014
- ↑ The Herald-Dispatch.com, "Chiles named Cabell circuit judge," February 4, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 West Virginia Record, "Chiles, Thompson win primaries in races for circuit judgeships," May 14, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ Martindale.com, Profile: Christopher D. Chiles
- ↑ WOWKTV.com, "Huntington, WV prosecutor appointed circuit judge," February 4, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 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