Warren McGraw
Encyclopedia
Warren Randolph McGraw is a lawyer, politician, and judge in West Virginia
and brother to current West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw
.
, United States, on May 10, 1939. After graduating from the Wyoming County public school system, McGraw attended Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston
) where he earned his Artium Baccalaureus
in 1960. McGraw then attended West Virginia University
Graduate School and later Wake Forest University
law school where he earned his Juris Doctor
in 1963. In 1961, McGraw married Peggy Shufflebarger. They have 3 children, Warren Randolph McGraw II, Helen Suzanne McGraw, and Rebecca McGraw M.D. The McGraws also have six grandchildren.
, serving there until 1970. He was then elected to the West Virginia Senate
in 1972, serving three consecutive terms. During his third term, McGraw was the Elected 44th Senate President. In 1984, he decided to run for Governor and in the Democratic primary challenged then-Speaker of the House Clyde M. See, State Attorney General Chauncey Browning, and State Highway Commissioner Dusty Rhodes. McGraw edged out Browning for second place but lost the primary to See.
After his service in the West Virginia Legislature, McGraw returned to Wyoming County where he was elected to the Board of Education in 1986 and later as Prosecuting Attorney in 1996. In 1998 McGraw successfully campaigned for an unexpired six year term in the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
. Under the Court's rotation scheme, he served as the Chief Justice during the 2001 term.
McGraw was defeated for reelection by Brent Benjamin in 2004. Afterwards, McGraw filed a lawsuit
against Charleston
attorney George Carenbauer and West Virginia Media Holdings over a campaign ad which McGraw claimed portrayed his speech during the 2004 United Mine Workers of America's Labor Day
rally in Racine, West Virginia
in an unfair light. The speech, sometimes referred to as the "Scream at Racine" or the "Scream from Racine", was featured in several campaign ads run by both the West Virginia Republican Party
and the Benjamin campaign, and played a large role in McGraw's reelection defeat. However, the suit was dismissed in July 2005.
In 2008 McGraw successfully ran for a Circuit Court
Judge
post, which he continues to hold.
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and brother to current West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw
Darrell McGraw
Darrell Vivian McGraw, Jr. is an American Democratic politician. He is the brother of former West Virginia State Supreme Court Justice and state Senate President Warren McGraw....
.
Personal life
Warren McGraw was born in Wyoming County, West VirginiaWyoming County, West Virginia
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,796. Its county seat is Pineville. Wyoming County was created in 1850 from Logan County and named for the Delaware Indian word meaning "large plains."-Geography:According to the U.S...
, United States, on May 10, 1939. After graduating from the Wyoming County public school system, McGraw attended Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston
University of Charleston
The University of Charleston is a private university in Charleston, West Virginia, United States of over 1,300 students.-History:The school was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church...
) where he earned his Artium Baccalaureus
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1960. McGraw then attended West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
Graduate School and later Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
law school where he earned his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1963. In 1961, McGraw married Peggy Shufflebarger. They have 3 children, Warren Randolph McGraw II, Helen Suzanne McGraw, and Rebecca McGraw M.D. The McGraws also have six grandchildren.
Political career
McGraw began his political career in 1968 when he was elected to the West Virginia House of DelegatesWest Virginia House of Delegates
The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...
, serving there until 1970. He was then elected to the West Virginia Senate
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
in 1972, serving three consecutive terms. During his third term, McGraw was the Elected 44th Senate President. In 1984, he decided to run for Governor and in the Democratic primary challenged then-Speaker of the House Clyde M. See, State Attorney General Chauncey Browning, and State Highway Commissioner Dusty Rhodes. McGraw edged out Browning for second place but lost the primary to See.
After his service in the West Virginia Legislature, McGraw returned to Wyoming County where he was elected to the Board of Education in 1986 and later as Prosecuting Attorney in 1996. In 1998 McGraw successfully campaigned for an unexpired six year term in the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. It is located in the state capital, Charleston....
. Under the Court's rotation scheme, he served as the Chief Justice during the 2001 term.
McGraw was defeated for reelection by Brent Benjamin in 2004. Afterwards, McGraw filed a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
attorney George Carenbauer and West Virginia Media Holdings over a campaign ad which McGraw claimed portrayed his speech during the 2004 United Mine Workers of America's Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
rally in Racine, West Virginia
Racine, West Virginia
Racine is an unincorporated census-designated place in Boone County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 256. The post office was opened on December 10, 1881, having been named by the Sayre family whose ancestors lived in Racine, Ohio. Racine is home to the...
in an unfair light. The speech, sometimes referred to as the "Scream at Racine" or the "Scream from Racine", was featured in several campaign ads run by both the West Virginia Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and the Benjamin campaign, and played a large role in McGraw's reelection defeat. However, the suit was dismissed in July 2005.
In 2008 McGraw successfully ran for a Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
post, which he continues to hold.