The West Virginia Senate chamber. (West Virginia Legislative Photography)
Gov. Patrick Morrisey appointed former Charleston Municipal Court Judge Anne Charnock to the state Senate on Tuesday, according to a news release.
Charnock, a Republican, will fill the seat in the 17th senate district, representing Kanawha County. That seat was vacated by Eric Nelson last month after he accepted the position of revenue secretary in Morrisey’s administration.
“Anne is a lifelong Republican and has been a dedicated public servant in Kanawha County,” Morrisey said. “As a former judge and an accomplished attorney, she will be a great advocate for her constituents.”
Charnock served as the municipal court judge in Charleston for 12 years, from 2010 and 2022, where she oversaw traffic offenses and city ordinance violations. In 2022, she lost her bid for another reelection to former Kanawha County assistant prosecutor Matt Smith. Charnock worked for about five years as the municipal clerk in Charleston before being elected as judge for the court.
A lawyer by trade, Charnock is the owner of the Charleston-based Charnock & Charnock law firm. She is also a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association and has served as assistant counsel for the West Virginia Republican Party, according to the news release.
The 2025 regular legislative session starts on Wednesday, Feb. 12.