Groh confirmed as new
The U.S. Senate has confirmed the nomination of 23rd Circuit Court Judge Gina Groh to the federal bench. On Thursday, March 15, the Senate voted 95-2 to confirm Groh to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.
Judge Groh’s transition to her new role has already begun.
Retired Tucker County Circuit Judge Andrew Frye will temporarily replace Judge Groh on the 23rd Circuit Court until Governor Earl Ray Tomblin appoints her permanent replacement. Judge Frye began hearing cases in Morgan County this week.
Waiting period over
At Senator Jay Rockefeller’s recommendation, President Obama nominated Judge Gina Marie Groh to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia on May 19, 2011.
She was unopposed in a voice vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee on October 6, 2011, and had been waiting since then for an up-or-down vote by the full Senate, said Rockefeller.
The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia has been without a sitting judge since the passing of Judge W. Craig Broadwater in 2006.
Judge Groh has served Morgan County since her 2006 appointment by Governor Joe Manchin to the 23rd Circuit. Prior to that, Judge Groh served as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.
In addition to overseeing a number of criminal and civil jury trials in Morgan County, Judge Groh has conducted open motions hearings each month.
For most of her local tenure, Judge Groh ran her court proceedings in small temporary courtrooms and the Board of Education building while the new Morgan County Courthouse was being designed, financed and constructed.
Senators applaud move
“Judge Groh has not only excelled professionally, but has also risen to become a true pillar of her community in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia,” said Senator Joe Manchin in a press release about last week’s confirmation.
“I believe that Judge Groh’s experience, intellect, leadership, impartiality and deep roots in the community make her a prudent choice for the vacancy in the Northern District of West Virginia. She exemplifies not only the qualities of a talented jurist, but also the high moral character of sense of justice necessary to make a great judge,” said Manchin.
“I couldn’t be more pleased that the Senate confirmed Judge Groh. This is a great day for her but also for the people of West Virginia,” Senator Rockefeller said in a press release last week.
“She is a talented and fair judge who has dedicated her career to serving the people of our state. She has earned the respect and confidence of West Virginians both from her work as an even-handed judge, as well as her time as a diligent prosecutor and law firm associate. I know she’ll do a great job,” said Rockefeller.
