A state commission has scheduled interviews in December to
replace two judges.
Following the Dec. 16 interviews, the Judicial Vacancy Advisory
Commission will recommend candidates to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to replace former
Mingo County Circuit Court Michael Thornsbury and Putnam County Family Court
Judge William Watkins.
The commission set the date
for interviews on Tuesday.
Thornsbury pleaded guilty in October to conspiring to deprive a
man of his constitutional rights.
Watkins has notified Tomblin's office that he will retire Nov.
30.
The West Virginia Supreme Court suspended Watkins without pay in
March until the end of his term.
The Judicial Investigation Commission had accused Watkins of
delaying rulings, failing to enter domestic violence orders into the state's
tracking system and cursing at litigants.
