Judge Charles O. Lorensen was appointed to the Intermediate Court of Appeals by Governor Jim Justice in for a term expiring on December 31, 2028.

Judge Lorensen received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, magna cum laude, from West Virginia University in 1983. In 1986, he received a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law, where he graduated Order of the Coif and was managing editor of the West Virginia Law Review. In 1991, he received a masters of laws (LL.M.) degree in taxation from New York University School of Law.

At the time of his appointment, Judge Lorensen was a member of Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC in Charleston. He previously practiced law with George & Lorensen PLLC and Jackson Kelly PLLC and was in-house counsel for Stonerise Healthcare LLC.

Judge Lorensen served as Chief of Staff to Governor Earl Ray Tomblin from 2012 to 2016, served as Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Revenue under two administrations, and was State Tax Commissioner. He is a former Chairman of the West Virginia Investment Management Board, committee counsel at the West Virginia Senate, and adjunct lecturer at the West Virginia University College of Law. He became a West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow in 2017.

Judge Lorensen is married to Pamela Montgomery Lorensen, who share two children and six grandchildren. They reside in Charleston.