CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia voted in Administrative Conference on Tuesday, December 9, 2008, to approve senior status applications for two retiring Supreme Court Justices, six retiring Circuit Court Judges, and one retiring Magistrate.

Retired judicial officers who wish to be appointed to serve as Senior Status Justices, Judges, or Magistrates must apply for that position to the Supreme Court.

The Court voted to approve the applications of Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard and Justice Larry Starcher for service both as Senior Status Justices and Senior Status Judges. Both Justices are leaving the Court on December 31 at the end of twelve-year terms. Justice Maynard was not re-elected. Justice Starcher did not seek re-election.

Chief Justice Maynard previously served as a Circuit Judge in Mingo County from February 18, 1982, until December 31, 1996, at which time he joined the Supreme Court due to his election to the higher office. Justice Starcher previously served as a Circuit Judge in Monongalia County from January 1, 1977, until December 31, 1996, at which time he joined the Supreme Court due to his election to the higher office.

The Court on Tuesday also voted to approve the Senior Status applications of six Circuit Judges. They are

– Sixth Circuit Judge John L. Cummings of Cabell County, who did not seek re-election after serving as a Circuit Judge for nineteen years, since March 15, 1990.

– Circuit Judge Andrew N. Frye, Jr., of the 21^st Judicial Circuit of Grant, Mineral, and Tucker Counties, who did not seek re-election after serving as a judge for 22 years, since January 1, 1987.

– Circuit Judge John S. Hrko of the 27^th Judicial Circuit of Wyoming County, who did not seek re-election after 24 years as a judge, since January 1, 1985.

– Circuit Judge John T. Madden, who did not seek re-election after serving the Second Judicial Circuit of Marshall, Tyler, and Wetzel Counties for nineteen years, since May 31, 1990.

– Circuit Judge Thomas W. Steptoe, Jr., who did not seek re-election after serving in the 23^rd Judicial Circuit of Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties for eleven years, since January 5, 1998.

– Seventeenth Judicial Judge Robert B. Stone of Monongalia County, who did not seek re-election after serving as a judge for 24 years, since October 1, 1985.

And the Court voted to approve the Senior Status application of Ohio County Magistrate Rose M. Humway. Magistrate Humway has served in Ohio County for 32 years, since January 1, 1977, and was not re-elected.