CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County family court judge could face disciplinary action from the state Supreme Court after being charged with misdemeanor battery by Charleston police.
Judge Mark Snyder allegedly grabbed a nurse by the arm at CAMC General Monday night in an attempt to get her to administer care to a friend of the judge who was a patient at the hospital.
The criminal complaint said the nurse told Snyder she would talk with the patient but Snyder allegedly grabbed her arm and tried to pull her down the hallway. He also allegedly yelled at the nurse. The judge was later escorted from the hospital.
Snyder has been charged with battery on health care providers. He was arraigned in Kanawha County Magistrate Court and released.
State Supreme Court Administrator Steve Canterbury filed a complaint Tuesday afternoon against Snyder with the state Judicial Investigation Commission. He said the JIC has 10 days to make a recommendation to the state Supreme Court.
“They can find there’s nothing to the complaint. They can also recommend to the Court that the judge be suspended without pay. They can file a public censor. They can file a private mentoring-sort of letter,” Canterbury said.
Snyder’s arrest is believed the first arrest of a Family Court Judge in West Virginia. Family Court judges used to be appointed by the governor but they began running in partisan elections in 2002.