MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Berkeley County prosecutor has officially tossed his hat into the ring for the 27th Judicial Circuit vacancy.
The 27th circuit covers Berkeley and Morgan counties. The opening came about when Judge Steven Redding retired after eight years on the bench in late May.
An application deadline for Redding’s replacement passed last Wednesday. Candidates to fill the vacancy will be interviewed in Morgantown on July 22. Three names for those interviews will be forwarded on to Gov. Patrick Morrisey. He’ll make his choice at that point.
Berkeley County Prosecutor Joseph Kinser was a guest on “Panhandle Live!” on WEPM Radio Monday. He said it was a difficult decision to enter his name into the running.
“It was right there at the last minute,” Kinser said. “It was a lot of deliberation, and prayer, and time with my family. It’s kind of been bittersweet and it’s been odd. I’ve been a prosecutor for 11 years and been the elected prosecutor for 18 months in Berkeley County.”
Kinser said he’ll forever treasure his time with the county prosecutor’s office. However, he said the Judicial Circuit candidacy was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“It’s been the honor of my career,” Kinser said. “But for me, when I looked at it and I thought about it critically, just how important a circuit judge is in a community.”
If Kinser is appointed, that would mean that Berkeley County would need its third different prosecutor in a two-year period. Kinser said he’s confident the office would be in good hands.
“My mantra for this year at the prosecutor’s office has been, ‘I am the coach, not the captain,'” Kinser explained. “There are younger attorneys that, instead of just watching me do it, they’ve needed this year to start doing it themselves. I’ve worked with them, and I’ve prepped with them.”
Kinser said he would be in for a big change if he’s appointed.
“So, to take that analogy a step further to this,” Kinser said, “this is more hanging up the jersey altogether, and putting on referee stripes.”