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Second W.Va. Intermediate Court judge election on May ballot

CHARLESTON – Voters have the opportunity in May to elect the second of three positions on the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals since the court’s creation by the Legislature in 2021.

The new three-judge court, which began hearing cases in 2023, is meant to help take the load off of the state Supreme Court and allow the justices to focus on precedent-setting legal cases.

The first three ICA judges were appointed by former Gov. Jim Justice. In 2024, voters chose the first ICA judge for a 10-year term with the election of ICA Judge Ryan White.

Dan Greear is one of the ICA’s original judges and is serving a second time as the court’s chief justice. He is a former Kanawha County Circuit Court judge, was a Republican candidate for attorney general in 2008 and was a chief of staff and legal counsel for the House of Delegates.

“My judicial philosophy is that of judicial restraint,” Greear said. “A judge should respect and follow the policy decisions as announced in the text of legislative enactments. The judge must ensure that the legislation fits within the guidelines of the Constitution. When interpreting a statute or the Constitution, the meaning of the text when enacted is paramount. A judge should refrain from forcing his own beliefs, opinions, or experiences in place of the actual intent of the Constitution or legislation.”

Greear served in the House representing Kanawha County for one two-year term beginning in 1995. He served as chief counsel for the former then-attorney general, now-Gov. Morrisey from 2013 to 2014. Greear was also a managing member of KKB, LLC, focusing on civil litigation.

Greear’s lone opponent is 11th Family Circuit Court Judge Jim Douglas, who was first elected to the circuit serving Kanawha County in 2016 and re-elected in 2024. Prior to that, Douglas operated his own law practice since 1977 focused on divorce proceedings and family law. He also served as prosecuting attorney in Braxton County for one term beginning in 1985.

“My entire career has been dedicated to Family Law. Nothing, nothing, is more important to a continuing civilized society than families and children,” Douglas said. “I believe my kids and my grandkids, and your kids and grandkids, are entitled to have the most qualified Judge sitting on their cases.

“Would you want a veterinarian to treat your daughter for an abscessed tooth? Would you want your son to get the oil in his truck changed by a spa masseuse? Would you want your granddaughter to have a divorce lawyer just out of law school who has just watched two episodes of ‘Judge Judy?’ Qualification and experience are the watchwords,” he continued. “West Virginia families want me on the ICA; they need me on that ICA; the children have to have me on the ICA.”

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com.

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