WAYNE, W.Va. – James H. Young, Jr., became West Virginia’s newest circuit judge when he was sworn in at the Wayne County Courthouse on Monday, December 8, 2008. Wayne County Circuit Chief Judge Darrell Pratt delivered the oath of office.

Judges Pratt and Young are the only judges in the one-county 24^th Judicial Circuit.

Judge Young’s seat was one of three new Circuit Judge positions created by Senate Bill 291, which the Legislature passed during the 2008 regular legislative session. Governor Joe Manchin appointed Judge Young on Friday, December 5, to fill the Wayne County seat.

Judge Young said he expects to begin hearing cases as soon as next week.

Since 1997, he has served as the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney, and he is the immediate past president of the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

A native of Pennsylvania, Judge Young has spent most of his life in the Huntington area. He received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Marshall University in 1974 and a law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1979. He has been a member of and partner in law firms in Cincinnati and Huntington, most recently Woelfel & Young (1995-1997). He is married and has two children.

"For the past ten years it has been an honor to serve the citizens of Wayne County as prosecuting attorney," Young said. "I look forward to continuing to serve Wayne County as circuit judge, and I want to thank Governor Manchin for this honor. I pledge to him and the citizens of Wayne County to honorably discharge my duties."