Mike Ferrell

Professional career

• On January 24, 2024, Ferrell submitted his resignation to Kanawha County Chief Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers, who then forwarded it to the West Virginia Supreme Court
• WCHS reports on January 20, 2024 that he submitted his resignation to Chief Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers late Friday afternoon (January 19), after nearly one four-year term.
• Election context: The West Virginia Legislature had added three new magistrates and one new circuit judge to Kanawha County in a prior year, bringing the total to 13 magistrates and 8 circuit judges

Education

Additional information

• He remained on the ballot for the Division 7 seat in the 2024 election, but as of the reporting date had no opponent.
• He won the seat in May 2020, defeating incumbent Jess Bailes by nearly 6,000 votes.
• The report says he defeated incumbent Jess Bailes in the 2020 election by nearly 6,000 votes and remained filed for reelection at the time.
• The resignation came abruptly, and Ferrell stated it was “about the retirement board” but did not elaborate further at the time.
• Mike Ferrell held the role of a Kanawha County Magistrate for almost a full four‐year term, a position that handles a wide range of local criminal and civil cases in West Virginia’s busiest circuit.
• Mike Ferrell held the role of a Kanawha County magistrate in Division 7.