| A bill removing the partisan election of WV judges and magistrates went into effect June 8.
The law requires the election for all levels of judicial officers be selected on a nonpartisan basis.
In the local 5th Judicial Circuit, with David W. Nibert and Thomas Evans III retiring next year, and a new judge allocated to the district, there will be three openings in 2016.
The law applies to judicial officers in West Virginia including Justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Circuit Court Judges, Family Court Judges and Magistrates. Judicial officers will be required to run in a designated division.
The next primary election in West Virginia is slated for May 10, 2016.
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