Christopher Wilkes
Christopher Wilkes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Judge, 23rd Judicial Circuit of West Virginia | |
| Assumed office January 1, 1993 | |
| Personal details | |
| Spouse | Pat Wilkes |
| Alma mater | West Virginia University Ohio Northern University College of Law |
Christopher C. Wilkes is the former chief judge for West Virginia's largest judicial circuit, the 23rd Judicial Circuit, encompassing Morgan, Jefferson, and Berkeley counties. Wilkes was first elected to the court in 1992 and has served on the bench since 1993. He has been reelected four times since, most recently in 2016.[1] On August 17, 2018, he announced his candidacy for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Division 1.[2] He was not elected, placing third among ten candidates. Wilkes retired in January 2019, but continued to serve as a senior judge.
Education
[edit]Wilkes received his undergraduate degree from West Virginia University and his J.D. from the Ohio Northern University College of Law.[3]
Career
[edit]Wilkes has served as president of the West Virginia Judicial Association,[4] co-chairman of the Youth Services Committee of the Court Improvement Board, and a member of the Judges Initiative Committee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. He also served as a member of West Virginia's Judicial Investigation Commission, and was a West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow.[5][6]
Wilkes served as the first chair of West Virginia's Business Court Division[7] from 2012-2018,[8][9] and continued with that business court as a senior judge.[10] He also served as a Business Court Representative to the American Bar Association's Business Law Section.[11]
Wilkes retired in January 2019,[6][12] and subsequently was appointed a senior judge, with a term ending on December 31, 2024.[13] In 2023, he served as the common benefit fund manager in West Virginia's opioid litigation.[14]
Before he was elected to the bench, Wilkes served as a judge for the cities of Martinsburg and Ranson in West Virginia from 1985 to 1993. He previously worked as an attorney in private practice in Martinsburg.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ Young, Jennifer (15 Dec 2016). "23rd circuit court judges, clerks sworn in". The Journal. Retrieved 10 Aug 2018.
- ^ "Judge Christopher Wilkes announces his candidacy for WV State Supreme Court". WRNR. 17 Aug 2018. Retrieved 17 Aug 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Judge Profile: Christopher C. Wilkes". Martindale.com. 10 Aug 2018. Retrieved 10 Aug 2018.
- ^ Salls, Carrie. "West Virginia Judicial Association elects new officers". West Virginia Record. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Judicial Campaign Ethics Handbook, 2020 Edition, West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission" (PDF). 2020.
- ^ a b "Circuit Court judge Christopher Wilkes retiring after 25 years". Spirit of Jefferson. 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Business Court Division, West Virginia Judiciary".
- ^ Workman, Chief Justice Margaret L. "Administrative Order, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Re: Reappointment of Business Court Division Chair (October 7, 2015)" (PDF).
- ^ Workman, Chief Justice Margaret L. "Administrative Order, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Re: Appointment of the Honorable Christopher C. Wilkes to Continue as Chair of the Business Court Division (November 21, 2018)" (PDF).
- ^ Umstead, Matthew. "Retiring longtime Eastern Panhandle circuit judge "looking forward to the next chapter"". Herald-Mail Media. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ "American Bar Association, Business Law Section, Business Court Representatives".
- ^ Dickerson, Chris. "Justice appoints Scudiere and McLaughlin as circuit judges; Raleigh County position remains vacant". West Virginia Record. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Judge Akers Appointed to Business Court Division". West Virginia Record. January 4, 2022. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ McElhinny, Brad (2023-09-22). "$141 million in attorneys fees to be divided among West Virginia lawyers in mass opioid litigation". WV MetroNews. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Young, Jennifer (29 Nov 2016). "Wilkes named president of Judicial Association". The Journal. Retrieved 10 Aug 2018.