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Larry Victor Starcher[1] (September 25, 1942 – December 24, 2022) was an American jurist who was a justice of 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.
Larry V. Starcher | |
|---|---|
| Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia | |
| In office January 1, 1997 – December 31, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Albright |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Workman |
| Judge of 17th Circuit Court of West Virginia | |
| In office 1977–1996 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 25, 1942 Roane County, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | December 24, 2022 (aged 80) |
| Alma mater | West Virginia University |
Education
editA native of Roane County, West Virginia, Starcher earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1964 from West Virginia University and his Juris Doctor in 1967 from the West Virginia University College of Law.
Career
editPrior to being elected as a circuit judge of Monongalia County 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 (1977-1996), including 18 as chief judge. While sitting as a circuit judge, 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 as a Democrat in a partisan election. He served as chief justice in 1999, and 2003. He 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.
Starcher had been highly critical of the actions of the executive of a coal company who had business before the court, which led to him recusing himself in at least some decisions involving that company.[2] He criticized a fellow Justice who won election with large contributions from the coal company executive and then cast deciding votes in favor of the company.[3][4] The situation led to a U. S. Supreme Court case, Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co., about when judges should recuse themselves.[5]
Death
editStarcher died on December 24, 2022, at the age of 80.[6]
Awards and associations
editStarcher was president of the West Virginia Judicial Association in 1992 and 1993. 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 was a regular instructor at judicial conferences, and was 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 University. Starcher also served as an adjunct lecturer at the West Virginia University College of Law from 1992.[citation needed]
Popular culture
editIn 2007, Starcher was cast as a jury member in the Marshall University courtroom drama, J.R. Clifford and the Carrie Williams Case. He was alongside Arley Johnson, Stephen J. Kopp, and David Felinton.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ Who's Who in American Law, 2002-2003. Marquis Who's Who. 2002. p. 621.
- ^ Jones, Ashby (February 15, 2008). "Another Justice to Step Down in Massey Energy Case". Law Blog. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ Liptak, Adam (October 11, 2008). "U.S. Supreme Court Is Asked to Fix Troubled West Virginia Justice System". The New York Times. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ Liptak, Adam (October 1, 2006). "Case Studies: West Virginia and Illinois". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ Totenberg, Nina (March 3, 2009). "W.Va. Case Tests When Judges Should Step Aside". NPR. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ Kercheval, Hoppy (December 26, 2022). "Former Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher dies". WV MetroNews. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ^ "Marshall drama, seminar to honor state's first black lawyer". West Virginia Record. October 11, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Seminar Drama to Honor West Virginia Lawyer". The Daily Independent. October 8, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2024.