Judge Gray Silver, III has announced his candidacy for re-election for his third term as Judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit of West Virginia, 4th Division, in the May 10, 2016 primary election. He has been serving as judge of the 4th Division of this circuit for the past 15 years, since his election to that office in November 2000 and re=election in 2008. He has spent considerable time sitting in cases in all three counties of Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan.

Judge Silver, who is 62 years of age, was born in Martinsburg, son of the late Judge Gray Silver, Jr. and Kathleen L. Silver. He is married to Sally E. Silver and they have two children, Gray Silver, IV, age 14 and Elizabeth G. Silver, age 12.

Judge Silver was educated in the public schools of Berkeley County where he graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1971. He received his B.A. Degree from the University of Virginia in 1975 and received his law degree in 1979 from the West Virginia University College of Law.

Silver began the practice of law in 1979 as an Assistant Attorney General for West Virginia in the Trial and Appellate Division in Charleston where he appeared in cases in all of West Virginia’s federal courts and many state circuit courts. He also briefed and argued several cases before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals during this time. He returned to Martinsburg in 1982 where he continued to practice law as a trial attorney until his election as judge.

Silver was admitted to practice before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in 1979, the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia in 1979, the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia in 1`979, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in 1980 and the United States Supreme Court in 1982.

Silver has been active in various bar associations since being admitted to the Bar in 1979, being a member of the Berkeley County Bar Association, the West Virginia Bar Association serving as its vice president from 1989-89 and the West Virginia State Bar.

He was further an active member of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia serving on their Board of Governors from 1988 to 1991 and the Defense Research Institute.

He has been an active member of the West Virginia Judicial Association since his election as judge.

Silver said he handled the majority of the juvenile and abuse and neglect cases in all three counties during the first six years of his first term as judge.

Although challenging, I found it very rewarding to try and make a difference in children’s lives,” he said.

He praised the CASA organization for their efforts on behalf of children.

He has been a member of the West Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution for many years and also the General Adam Stephen Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution which covers Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties.

He has been an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Martinsburg and served several terms on the Board of Deacons, Session, served as treasurer and served as Clerk of the Session.

Silver said he has enjoyed serving the people of the tri-county area and said he has a great respect for the law, a byproduct of growing up in a family of lawyers and legislators.

Silver felt it very important to remind all voters that the past legislature changed the law to make the election of all judges at every level, including circuit judges, a nonpartisan election in the May primary, when all judges’ elections will be decided and final. No judges will be on the November general election ballot.

“I am acutely aware that I would not have a job as judge without the support of a great number of friends an other good folks in the Eastern Panhandle, and I would once again ask, and thank you , for your support and vote in the May primary election,” Silver said.