This bill amends West Virginia Code §50-1-6 to allow for the filling of vacancies in the office of magistrate not only when a vacancy occurs but also in anticipation of an upcoming resignation or retirement. Specifically, it permits a circuit judge or chief circuit judge to fill a vacancy upon receiving a formal announcement of such an upcoming change. This includes situations where a magistrate-elect resigns after being elected but before taking office.

Additionally, the bill mandates that when a magistrate is elected for an unexpired term, the circuit judge or chief judge must publish a notice of the election as a Class II-0 legal advertisement in compliance with existing legal provisions. This ensures that the election process is transparent and that the public is informed about the upcoming election for the magistrate's position.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 50-1-6