Why I am running for 24th Circuit Family Court Judge:
“It is important that our Family Court protects our children and that our litigants enjoy fair and balanced decisions concerning their personal lives. If elected I will strive to ensure that these rights are preserved.”
Experience & Integrity for Berkeley and Jefferson Counties
Family court judges hear cases involving divorce, annulment, separate maintenance, paternity, grandparent visitation, name change, infant guardianship, child custody, and issues involving allocation of parental responsibility and family support proceedings, except those incidental to child abuse and neglect proceedings. Family court judges also may perform marriages.
In West Virginia, there are forty-seven family court judges who serve twenty-seven family court circuits. Family court judges are elected in nonpartisan elections and their terms are for eight years.
In March 2023, the West Virginia legislature created a fourth judicial seat for the 24th family court circuit. The term for this seat begins January 1, 2025. I am running for this position.
About the Candidate
Qualifications matter. Carmela is the candidate with courtroom experience; as a trial lawyer and as a magistrate. Beginning her litigation career in 1994, Carmela has served the Panhandle as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Berkeley County, Public Defender, as court appointed counsel in private practice and as Guardian ad Litem protecting children’s voices in both Circuit and Family courts. She has worked in the Family, Magistrate, Circuit, and Federal Courts litigating felonies, misdemeanors, abuse and neglect and, juvenile matters. Currently, she serves as Magistrate for Jefferson County.
Carmela understands that litigants require respect and must be heard. She has always strived to serve her clients and those who appear before her as magistrate with integrity. Her depth of experience gives her the sensitivity to hear litigants’ concerns and the skills to constructively work with and support them and their families as they navigate changes in their lives.
Carmela Cesare, a graduate of WVU College of Law, has spent 30 years in the Eastern Panhandle’s courtrooms working in the public’s interest to ensure that justice is served competently and with integrity. As Family Court Judge, Carmela will provide the citizens of Berkeley and Jefferson Counties that same high level of committed service.
Her priorities will be safeguarding the welfare of children involved in the Family Court’s cases and to ensure that the Court’s decisions, which directly affect personal lives, are fair and balanced.
Carmela has served on various, local community boards, is a small business owner and is active in her church. She and her husband of 30 thirty years have raised three daughters here in the eastern panhandle, all of whom are proud WVU Mountaineers.
Carmela Cesare’s experience and integrity will contribute a high level of service to our Family Court that will benefit the citizens of Berkeley and Jefferson counties. She listens because she knows that individuals in court need to be heard.
Retired Family Court Judge, Berkeley and Jefferson counties
Retired Circuit Court Judge, Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties
Retired Sheriff, Berkeley County
Retired business owner, Curator of the Sumner Ramer School museum, Berkeley County Citizen of the Year 1996
Mayor of Martinsburg, WV
Retired Family Court Judge, Berkeley and Jefferson Counties
Retired Sheriff and Magistrate, Jefferson County
Retired Sheriff and Magistrate, Berkeley County
Retired business owner, Curator of the Sumner-Ramer School museum, Berkeley County Citizen of the Year 2012
Judicial Election Day is May 14, 2024