Cabell County Justice of the peace Woelfel resigns appointed circuit clerk | News

HUNTINGTON — Longtime Cabell County justice of the peace decide Michael “Mike” J. Woelfel has resigned to grow to be Cabell County Circuit Court docket clerk.

The state Supreme Courtroom of Appeals declared his resignation Monday.

“Magistrate Woelfel’s exemplary services to Cabell County citizens for a lot more than 18 several years will provide him well in his next work as circuit clerk,” stated Main Justice Evan Jenkins in a launch. “Over the many years, he has proven himself to be a chief amongst his friends, serving as Cabell County Chief Justice of the peace considering that 2018 and, most not too long ago, as the Magistrate Association’s President.”

Woelfel was appointed in 2003, the youngest human being to be appointed justice of the peace in condition heritage.

He said he turned fascinated in the circuit clerk role soon after listening to of the vacancy remaining by Jeffrey Hood, who resigned his submit on the circuit courtroom June 20.

Hood had served as circuit clerk considering that Dec. 1, 2012, after being appointed to the placement. He was then elected to the role in 2014 and all over again in January 2016.

Condition law outlines that the vacancy was to be loaded by a majority vote of the four circuit judges. Janet Lynn McCoy, the latest main deputy clerk, served as performing circuit clerk till a successor was named.

“When there was a vacancy, I thought of implementing for it and I did that. And then, fortuitously the judges resolved to appoint me which was quite humbling,” Woelfel stated. “I recognize their faith in me to be able to conduct the office environment.”

Woelfel, a Huntington native and graduate of Marshall College, added that both equally the circuit court docket clerk and his previous magistrate job do the job collectively in the technique.

He is still obtaining his feet on the ground in his new job, as it’s various from justice of the peace, but he ideas to glance into technology to see how the circuit clerk’s workplace can superior provide residents and litigants in the court docket program.

“I appointed Mike as chief justice of the peace a pair of many years back and he’s carried out an awesome work administratively and in justice of the peace court. I experience self-confident that he will have on that identical management style in the circuit clerk’s business office,” stated Chief Choose Gregory Howard.

The judge added that he hopes Woelfel brings updates to the office environment in phrases of engineering by means of the modernization of companies like e-filings and jury obligation notifications.

Howard claimed Woelfel will be sworn in on Wednesday. He will serve right until Dec. 31, 2022. An election will be held in November 2022 to decide on the subsequent clerk, who will provide a 6-12 months expression beginning Jan. 1, 2023.