Former W.Va. justice, legislator back in political office

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Former Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw is back in political office, but this time it’s a county post.

McGraw won Tuesday’s primary for Wyoming County circuit judge. There are no Republican challengers so the job is his unless the official canvass says otherwise.

Fellow Democrat and former House Majority Leader Rick Staton won the Wyoming County primary for county prosecutor. And like McGraw, Staton has no Republican challenger in the general election.

McGraw lost his 2004 Supreme Court re-election bid to Brent Benjamin, who was backed by Massey Energy coal executive Don Blankenship.

Staton, a nine-term delegate, lost his House seat in 2006.

State Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey says it’s nice to see McGraw and Staton back in public office.