West Virginia Code
Article 1. Executive and Judicial Succession
§6A-1-8. Special Emergency Judges

In the event of an attack and in the event that any judge of any court of record is unavailable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his office, and in the event no other judge authorized to act in the event of absence, disability or vacancy or no special judge appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution or statutes is available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of such office, the duties of the office shall be discharged and the powers exercised by the special emergency judges hereinafter provided for:
(a) Each member of the state Supreme Court of Appeals shall designate special emergency judges in the number of not less than three nor more than seven to serve in the event that he becomes unavailable, and shall specify the order of their succession by order duly entered in the Supreme Court of Appeals.
(b) The special emergency interim judges of all other courts of record shall be elected by the attorneys practicing within the jurisdiction of said courts.
Such special emergency judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals shall, in the order specified, exercise the powers and discharge the duties of such office in case of the unavailability of the regular judge or judges or persons immediately preceding them in the designation. The designating authority shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made pursuant to this article to insure their current status.
Said special emergency judges shall discharge the duties and exercise the powers of such office until such time as a vacancy which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the Constitution and statutes or until the regular judge or one preceding the designee in the order of succession becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.

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