Larry Starcher
Encyclopedia
Larry V. Starcher was a justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
. In November 1996, he was elected as a Democrat in a partisan election to the Supreme Court of Appeals. He served as Chief Justice in 1999 and 2003.
, West Virginia
, Justice Starcher earned his A.B. in 1964 from West Virginia University
and his J.D. in 1967 from the West Virginia University College of Law
.
in 1976, he served as an Assistant to the Vice-President for Off-Campus Education at WVU, as Director of the North Central West Virginia Legal Aid Society, and as a private lawyer. He served as circuit judge for 20 years, 18 as chief judge. While sitting as a circuit judge, Justice Starcher served as a special judge in 23 of West Virginia’s 55 counties. He presided over the trial of 20,000 asbestos injury cases and a six-month state buildings asbestos trial. In November 1996, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals. He served as chief justice in 1999, and 2003, and promoted action in several areas of judicial administration, specifically: Court Facilities Committee; Public Trust and Confidence in the Judiciary; Mental Hygiene Commission; Court Technology Summit; Self-Represented Litigants Task Force; State Law Library improvements; and reactivated the Gender Fairness Task Force.
. Justice Starcher also has served as an Adjunct Lecturer at the West Virginia University College of Law from 1992 to the present.
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. It is located in the state capital, Charleston....
. In November 1996, he was elected as a Democrat in a partisan election to the Supreme Court of Appeals. He served as Chief Justice in 1999 and 2003.
Legal Background
A native of Roane CountyRoane County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 6,161 households, and 4,479 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,360 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Justice Starcher earned his A.B. in 1964 from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
and his J.D. in 1967 from the West Virginia University College of Law
West Virginia University College of Law
The West Virginia University College of Law is the professional school for the study of law at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. The law school was established in 1878 as the first professional school in the state of West Virginia...
.
Legal Career
Prior to being elected Circuit Judge of Monongalia CountyMonongalia County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 81,866 people, 33,446 households, and 18,495 families residing in the county. The population density was 227 people per square mile . There were 36,695 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile...
in 1976, he served as an Assistant to the Vice-President for Off-Campus Education at WVU, as Director of the North Central West Virginia Legal Aid Society, and as a private lawyer. He served as circuit judge for 20 years, 18 as chief judge. While sitting as a circuit judge, Justice Starcher served as a special judge in 23 of West Virginia’s 55 counties. He presided over the trial of 20,000 asbestos injury cases and a six-month state buildings asbestos trial. In November 1996, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals. He served as chief justice in 1999, and 2003, and promoted action in several areas of judicial administration, specifically: Court Facilities Committee; Public Trust and Confidence in the Judiciary; Mental Hygiene Commission; Court Technology Summit; Self-Represented Litigants Task Force; State Law Library improvements; and reactivated the Gender Fairness Task Force.
Awards and Associations
Justice Starcher was President of the West Virginia Judicial Association in 1992-93. As a trial judge, he was active in the area of juvenile justice, including establishing alternative learning centers for youths at risk and a youth shelter. He also pioneered the use of work-release and community service as punishment for nonviolent offenders. He has been a regular instructor at judicial conferences, and has been honored by many civic and community groups, including the NAACP, Jaycees, Trial Lawyers, and Probation Officers. In 1978, he was a Fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities at Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Justice Starcher also has served as an Adjunct Lecturer at the West Virginia University College of Law from 1992 to the present.