Charleston, W.V. West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher has ended speculation by announcing that he will not be seeking re-election to a second term on the State’s highest Court. Starcher, who served for twenty years as a circuit court judge in Monongalia County came to the Supreme Court in 1997. He served as Chief Justice in 1999 and 2003.

      Starcher announced that he will not run in 2008 with a brief statement. "By the end of next year, I will have served the West Virginia judiciary for 32 years. It has been an honor to have worked for the people of our State for so long. I am making this announcement because there are several very good candidates who have expressed interest in running for the Court in 2008. They need to know my intentions."

      Justice Starcher continued, "For over three decades I have endeavored to serve all the people of our State. Next year the seats of two justices will be filled. It will be a very important election. I hope that we nominate true Democrats who will bring to the Court the dignity and stature that it enjoyed when justices like Thomas Miller, Tom McHugh, and Franklin Cleckley sat on the Court."