Phillip D. Gaujot of Morgantown became West Virginia's newest circuit judge on August 26 when Governor Joe Manchin III appointed him to the new seat in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Monongalia County.

The Legislature created the position earlier this year through Senate Bill 338. Judge Gaujot joins Chief Judge Russell M. Clawges, Jr., and Judge Susan B. Tucker in that circuit.

"I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Gaujot in the past. He has always been a fine gentleman and a fine attorney. I believe he will be an outstanding judge," said Chief Justice Benjamin.

Judge Gaujot, 64, has practiced law in West Virginia for thirty-eight years and has served as administrative law judge for Workforce West Virginia for the past eight years. He was an assistant attorney general from 1971 to 1974, and since then has been a solo practitioner in Charleston and Morgantown. Additionally, Judge Gaujot served as general counsel for the city of Nitro for eighteen years, the city of Shinnston for eight years, and for the sheriff of Kanawha County.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the West Virginia University Alumni Association, having received his bachelor's degree in political science in 1968 and his law degree in 1971 from WVU. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Mon General Hospital Foundation, and he is a past member of Session of the First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown.

"I am absolutely humbled. I am humbled that I can serve the community as a judge because I do think the judge of a circuit court is one of the most important, if not the most important, jobs in the county," Judge Gaujot said. "I look forward to representing the people of this county and doing it in the fairest way. I believe that I can set aside any preconceived thoughts that I might have, or even biases that I might have, and rule based upon the merits of a case and the facts and the law. I believe I have the wisdom to do that.

"I am humbled by all the support that was given to me in this endeavor of being appointed as a judge. I had a lot of support from a lot of lawyers and non-lawyers from around the state, and around the country for that matter," Judge Gaujot said.

Judge Gaujot will be sworn in at 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, in Courtroom One of the Monongalia County Courthouse, 243 High Street, in Morgantown. Former Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher will deliver the oath of office. Justice Thomas McHugh will speak at the ceremony. Judge Clawges will robe his new colleague.

"We welcome Judge Gaujot and look forward to working with him," said Supreme Court Administrator Steve Canterbury.

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Former Family Court Judge Robert D. Calfee of Williamson died May 6 at the University of Ohio Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He was 55.

Judge Calfeee was born November 17, 1953, in Williamson. He was a 1971 graduate of Williamson High School. He had a undergraduate degree from Marshall University and a law degree from West Virginia University.

After law school, Judge Calfee returned to Williamson to practice law at the firm of Smith and Rumora. He later opened his own practice, during which time he also served as an assistant Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney.

In 1991, he became a Family Law Master, serving both Mingo and Logan counties. In 2001, then-Governor Bob Wise appointed him the first Family Court Judge for the Eighth Family Court Circuit of Mingo County. He was elected to that office in 2002 and served until his retirement at the end of his term on December 31, 2008. The West Virginia Supreme Court then appointed him to be a temporary Family Court Judge to hear cases throughout the state as needed.

Judge Calfee also served a term as a member of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board.

He was involved in numerous community affairs. He served for several years as the president of the Williamson Buddy League, and he coached Babe Ruth and little league baseball teams. He was a member of the Salvation Army Board of Directors and the Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College Board of Governors. He was a member of the United Memorial Methodist Church, where he served as church treasurer, was a member of the Board of Trustees, and the Administrative Board. He and his wife were former directors of the Methodist Youth Fellowship. He also was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose and he served on the Williamson High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

Judge Calfee is survived by his wife, Cynthia M. Calfee; a son, a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, his mother and father-in-law, and a large extended family.

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Cabell County Magistrate Donald E. "Don" Maynard died May 30 at St. Mary's Medical Center after a heart attack. He was 52.

Magistrate Maynard was elected in November 2008 and took office January 1, 2009, after retiring from a 26-year career as a Huntington police officer.

Magistrate Maynard was active in the Huntington community. He ran in local races and was heavily involved in the Police Olympics. He organized local concerts, worked on the Tri-State Transit Authority Executive Board, and coached track and field at local schools.

While a police officer, he was awarded the Medal of Valor, the highest award a law enforcement officer can receive for risking his life to save others. He also was recognized as police officer of the year and competed in the world's strongest cop contest.

Magistrate Maynard attended Marshall University and also graduated from West Virginia State Police Academy.

Huntington Police Capt. Hank Dial told The [Huntington] Herald-Dispatch that Magistrate Maynard was "just one of those all-around good guys. He was somebody you were always happy to work with and happy to see."

Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Dan O'Hanlon knew Magistrate Maynard for almost thirty years. Magistrate Maynard used to work for Judge O'Hanlon when he was a municipal judge in Huntington.

"He was a terrific magistrate. Although very new, he was hardworking," Judge O'Hanlon told the newspaper. "He will be sorely missed."

The Cabell County Judiciary released a statement saying, "Although only recently elected, Don was totally committed to serving the citizens of Cabell County and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Only Friday, when asked to help a fellow magistrate, Don said 'Sure, I'm a team player, what needs to be done?' That generosity of spirit and dedication to his job was second nature to Don and will be hard to duplicate."

He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Hinkle Maynard, his father and mother, and two sons.

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Daniel Goheen appointed magistrate in Cabell County

The Cabell Circuit Court appointed former Magistrate Dan Goheen to fill a vacancy created by the death of Magistrate Don Maynard.

Magistrate Goheen was sworn into office on June 4 by Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Dan O'Hanlon, who acted as chief judge for the vacationing Judge Jane Hustead. Magistrate Goheen will serve until the general election in 2010, when a candidate will be elected to serve the remaining two years on Magistrate Maynard's term.

Magistrate Goheen was the unanimous choice of the circuit's four judges, The [Huntington] Herald-Dispatch reported. He most recently served as magistrate between June and December 2008 when he assumed the post that had been held by longtime Magistrate Alvie Qualls, who also died in office.

Judge O'Hanlon said there were many qualified applicants for Magistrate Maynard's position.

"I thank everyone for their interest in coming to help us out, but we just felt Mr. Goheen could step right into the job," he said. "We are so busy down there, that we felt it was important to get someone who could do the job from the day that he started."

Judge O'Hanlon said Magistrate Goheen will keep Magistrate Maynard's assistant, Drema Cremeans. She had previously served as Magistrate Goheen's assistant following Magistrate Qualls' death.

Magistrate Goheen is a lifelong resident of Cabell County who attended St. Joseph Central Catholic High School and Marshall University. He is a former member of the Huntington Police Civil Service Commission, serving as its president for thirteen years.

Magistrate Goheen sought the Democratic nomination for magistrate in 2008. He lost by 240 votes.

Mercer County lost a combined fifty-five years of experience on July 31 when Circuit Clerk Brenda Davis and Magistrate Harold Buckner retired.

Ms. Davis said the choice to leave the job she had held for 39 years was "one of the most difficult decisions" of her life.

"I love my job, the people I work with, the work that I do. I know I'll leave a piece of my heart at the courthouse," she told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

Magistrate Buckner had served in his current position for sixteen years, after serving eight years as Mercer County sheriff.

Mercer County's Ninth Circuit Judges appointed Julie Ball as the next circuit clerk and former Magistrate James Dent to the vacant judicial seat. Ms. Ball is a longtime employee in the Mercer County Circuit Clerk's Office. Magistrate Dent will return to a post he held until he stepped down to run for sheriff in 2004.

Both appointments took effect August 1. Both will serve until the 2010 general election, when candidates will be elected to serve the remainder of Ms. Davis' and Magistrate Buckner's terms.

 
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