- Darrell McGraw
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Darrell McGraw Attorney General of West Virginia Incumbent Assumed office
1993Governor Gaston Caperton
Cecil H. Underwood
Bob Wise
Joe Manchin
Earl Ray TomblinPreceded by Mario Palumbo Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia In office
1984–1988Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia In office
January 1, 1976 – December 31, 1988Preceded by Donald R. Wilson Succeeded by Margaret Workman Personal details Born November 8, 1936
McGraws-Tipple, West VirginiaPolitical party Democratic Spouse(s) Jorea Marple (4 children) Residence Charleston, West Virginia Alma mater West Virginia University Profession Lawyer Religion Methodist Darrell Vivian McGraw, Jr. (born November 8, 1936 in McGraws-Tipple, Wyoming County, West Virginia) is an American Democratic politician. He is the brother of former West Virginia State Supreme Court Justice and state Senate President Warren McGraw.
He was elected state attorney general in 1992 and re-elected in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008.[1] In January, 2009, McGraw was sworn in as attorney general for a record fifth term.
Contents
Early Life & Education
McGraw graduated from Pineville High School and served two years in the United States Army, stationed in Germany, before beginning his undergraduate career at West Virginia University, where he served as student body president and dedicated the mast of the U.S.S. West Virginia, which still stands as a landmark at the university.
After earning his Juris Doctor at West Virginia University, he began working under Governor Hulett Smith.
Political career
Prior to acting in an official capacity within West Virginian politics, McGraw took a behind the scenes role, serving as counsel to Hulett C. Smith, Governor from 1965 to 1969, and the West Virginia Legislature. For twelve years starting in 1976, he was a state Supreme Court Justice. During his tenure, McGraw upheld the state Freedom of Information Act, ordering that any exemptions that were to be granted related to this legislation were to be extremely limited. In 1980 he officiated at the wedding of Larry Shannon Roberts, a former WCHS weatherman, and Diana Rhodes Lovejoy, a former WV State Tax Dept employee. The wedding was held in the State Capitol Rotunda, the first known wedding to be held at this location.
In 1992 he was elected to his present office of Attorney General. As Attorney General for the State of West Virginia, he has been involved in many high profile national cases, including the 1998 multi-billion dollar State Tobacco Settlement, which secured billions of dollars for the state of West Virginia. As of a result of the settlement money, West Virginia will save $2.5 billion due to a bond sale that resulted from the settlement.[2] His office also litigated refunds for over 1,200 state residents from DirecTV totaling $152,000.00[3]
Criticisms
McGraw has been criticized by some newspapers, state legislators, tort reform advocates, and the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, who accuse him of cronyism,[4] benefiting trial lawyers who contribute to his political campaigns, and inappropriate use of public resources.[5]
Election results
References
- ^ [1].
- ^ “Bond sale cuts teacher pension fund payments to $285 million” The Charleston Gazette (June 27, 2007)
- ^ “$125 DIRECTV refunds due to 1,216 in state” Charleston Daily Mail (July 7, 2007)
- ^ “Sunshine for Hoods: State AGs and their trial-bar cronies,” The Wall Street Journal (February 20, 2007)
- ^ West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, Special Report: Flouting Laws You Are Charged To Protect: A Critical Look at Fourteen Years in the Office of Attorney General Darrell McGraw, June 2007
- ^ http://www.wvsos.com/elections/history/results/2000gencert.pdf
- ^ http://www.wvsos.com/elections/history/results/allgeneral04.pdf
- ^ http://www.wvsos.com/elections/history/results/Off_Results_Gen08_Fed_State_Multi-County.pdf
External links
- Official Biography of Attorney General Darrell McGraw
- Campaign Website: Friends of Attorney General Darrell McGraw
- Candidate Information from OurCampaigns.com
Legal offices Preceded by
Donald R. WilsonJustice for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
1976–1988Succeeded by
Margaret WorkmanPreceded by
Mario PalumboAttorney General of West Virginia
1993–presentSucceeded by
incumbentU.S. Senators State government Earl Ray Tomblin, Governor · Natalie Tennant, Secretary of State · Darrell McGraw, Attorney General · John Perdue, Treasurer · Glen Gainer III, State Auditor · Gus Douglass, West Virginia Commissioner of AgricultureSenate House Supreme Court AL • AK • AZ • AR • CA • CO • CT • DE • FL • GA • HI • ID • IL • IN • IA • KS • KY • LA • ME • MD • MA • MI • MN • MS • MO • MT • NE • NV • NH • NJ • NM • NY • NC • ND • OH • OK • OR • PA • RI • SC • SD • TN • TX • UT • VT • VA • WA • WV • WI • WY Categories:- 1936 births
- Living people
- People from Wyoming County, West Virginia
- People from Charleston, West Virginia
- West Virginia Attorneys General
- West Virginia University alumni
- United States Army personnel
- American military personnel from West Virginia
- West Virginia Democrats
- West Virginia lawyers
- American Methodists
- West Virginia University College of Law alumni
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