by Kate Shunney
Morgan County’s outgoing Sheriff K.C. Bohrer was preparing for a career shift to the judiciary after being elected as one of two county magistrates in May.
But training to take the bench in January has resulted in Bohrer offering his resignation as magistrate-elect to Judge Laura Faircloth, Chief of the 23rd Judicial Circuit, just weeks before he was to take office.
On December 6, Bohrer penned his resignation, telling Judge Faircloth and Judge Debra McLaughlin that the requirement for him to cut off ties to his law enforcement affiliations in order to serve as a magistrate court judge had him “personally very conflicted”.
“Judicial Canons require a magistrate to disassociate themselves from law enforcement affiliations to be impartial and give the appearance of any impropriety,” Bohrer’s letter said. “I understand these rules and respect them.”
Citing his nearly 50-year career in law enforcement, Bohrer said he could not be true to himself if he cut off those ties.
Bohrer has served in leadership positions with several law enforcement organizations in West Virginia, from fraternal groups to professional associations.
“While I believe I could be a fair and impartial magistrate these rules would require me to resign my affiliations in the FBI NA, the FOP, the West Virginia Sheriff’s, and Deputy Sheriff’s Association. These organizations are especially important to me and while I have stepped away from active positions and leadership roles, I could not remain a member,” Bohrer’s letter stated.
“Ethically to remain in this position I must disassociate myself as if my prior life never existed or violate the rules of being a magistrate. Therefore, I have decided to remain ethical and true to myself, I must resign,” he told the judges.
Bohrer told The Morgan Messenger that he had not initially intended to run for magistrate, but was encouraged to do so by associates and friends.
While he said he knew of some of the requirements to be in a judicial position, he wasn’t aware of the full extent of them until he attended a training for new magistrates last week.
Bohrer said he and several other former law enforcement officers were surprised by what the ethics rules would require.
“I was under the impression I could step back from leadership and maintain membership in these organizations, but that’s not the case,” he said.
Bohrer said he wished he had been better educated about those rules or looked closer at them before being elected to the magistrate position.
“I feel terrible about the timing,” he said. “But to have done it wouldn’t have been fair.”
Bohrer apologized to those who had supported his campaign and his decision to run.
“I apologize to anyone that I let down,” he said.
The Chief Judge of the Judicial Circuit will appoint an appropriate candidate to fill the Magistrate position until the next scheduled election in 2026. At that time, the seat Bohrer was to fill will be on the ballot to become elected by voters.
