2000 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election

The 2000 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election took place on November 7, 2000, to elect two Justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia for the next 12 years. The electoral system requires voters to vote for no more than two candidates. Both Democratic candidates, former Justice Joseph Albright and incumbent Justice Robin Davis, were the top two vote-getters with 41.0% and 34.6% of the vote, respectively. Lone Republican nominee and former State Senator John C. Yoder came in a distant third with 24.4%, thus losing the election. == Background == Democratic Justice Margaret Workman resigned from the court in August 1999. Republican governor Cecil H. Underwood replaced her with George M. Scott. Scott did not seek election to a full term. Another Democratic Justice, Thomas B. Miller, retired in August 1994. Democratic governor Gaston Caperton subsequently appointed Franklin Cleckley to fill the vacancy. A special election was held for the seat in 1996, which Cleckley did not contest. Democrat Robin Davis won the election to fill the unexpired term. Originally elected in 1998, Democratic Justice Warren McGraw sought Justice George M. Scott's open seat which was up for election in 2000, and was a twelve year term which would expire in 2012, despite the fact that his own term would expire in 2004. This was challenged in the state Supreme Court, and in a 4-1 decision, the Court held that McGraw was ineligible to run for a 12-year term in the year 2000 when he was already a member of the Court until the year 2004, and referred to his action as "audacious". == Democratic primary == === Candidates === ==== Nominees ==== Robin Davis, incumbent Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals. Joseph Albright, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals (1995-1996). ==== Eliminated in primary ==== Evan Jenkins, member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 16th district. Bob Bastress, attorney and professor at the West Virginia University College of Law since 1978. === Results === == Republican primary == === Candidates === ==== Nominee ==== John C. Yoder, former State Senator from the 16th district. === Results === == General election == === Results === == References ==