Allen Loughry II will lead the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals at the beginning of the year, replacing Menis Ketchum as the chief justice of the high court, according to a news release.
The Tucker County native has never led the court before, but will soon be responsible for presiding over oral argument and assigning replacement magistrates, family court and circuit court judges when a judge is unable to serve because of a conflict of interest, among other things.
"Justices should treat everyone the same and follow the law rather than follow a political agenda," Loughry said in the release. "The Supreme Court should never be political. Justices must be able to make impartial decisions based solely upon our laws. The process must be fair whether we are dealing with a baker or a billionaire. This is necessary for both individual liberty and economic prosperity and serves even a far more important goal of maintaining public trust in the legal system as it keeps the other political branches in check."
Loughry holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from West Virginia University and four law degrees -- two from American University two others from the University of London and the Capital University School of Law.
After serving as the senior assistant attorney general for the state's attorney general's office from 1997 to 2003, he began working as a law clerk at the high court until he was elected to serve on the court in 2012.