Brent Benjamin

Brent D. Benjamin is a lame duck Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. In 2004, he was the first Republican elected to the West Virginia Supreme Court in more than 80 years, defeating incumbent Justice Warren McGraw. In 2015, the West Virginia Legislature changed the election system for judicial officers to a nonpartisan basis. In 2016, Benjamin placed fourth of four serious candidates in the nonpartisan election, withof the vote, and will leave the court in January 2017.

Justice Benjamin was born in Marietta, Ohio, and earned his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from The Ohio State University. After graduating in 1984 he moved to Charleston, West Virginia, and has been a resident of West Virginia for the pastyears. Before his election, he was a principal attorney with Robinson and McElwee, PLLC in Charleston, West Virginia. His 20year practice at that firm involved general civil litigation in state and federal courts, including toxic torts and complex litigation. His civil rights practice focused on protecting children from physical and sexual abuse. He was elected to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in November 2004. Benjamin received 53 of the votes, McGraw received 47. He began a 12year term on January 1, 2005 and served a oneyear term as Chief Justice under the Courts rotation scheme in 2009. In 2013, he was appointed to a second oneyear term as Chief Justice. He is married, and has five children.

Source: Wikipedia