LEGAL NEWSLINE

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) - Robin Jean Davis will continue on with her position as justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, and newcomer Allen H. Loughry will begin his first term on the bench as a result of Tuesday's voting.

Davis, who has been a justice of the state Supreme Court since 1996, said her focus on running a positive campaign and her experience on the court rang true with voters across the state.

"I am delighted to serve West Virginia for another 12 years," Davis said. "I've spent a lot of time talking to West Virginians and my positive campaign and message has really resonated with voters."

Davis has campaigned on court projects targeting truancy and child neglect. She has also supported West Virginia's Business Court Division.

Loughry, who has served as a clerk for the state Supreme Court since 2003, said he ran a positive campaign and that he planned to honor West Virginians.

"I am deeply honored that West Virginians are allowing me to spend the next 12 years on the Supreme Court," Loughry said. "I've said consistently that if West Virginians would honor me with their vote, I would serve them with honor. I am ready to make West Virginia proud."

Prior to his job as clerk of the state Supreme Court, Loughry worked as a senior assistant attorney general in West Virginia's Attorney General's Office, as an aide to Gov. Gaston Caperton, and as a special assistant to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Loughry is also the author of the book "Don't Buy Another Vote. I Won't Pay for a Landslide: The Sordid and Continued History of Political Corruption in West Virginia," which was published in 2006.

Republican Circuit Judge John C. Yoder and Democrat Letitia "Tish" Chafin were also running for the Supreme Court seat.

Yoder said even though he lost the race, he is thankful that he will continue to have a job he enjoys as a circuit judge in the 23rd Judicial Circuit of West Virginia.

Davis led the race with 27 percent of the votes; Loughry ended with 26 percent; Yoder had 24 percent; and Chafin had 23 percent.