CHARLESTON — West Virginia voters will get to select the first elected member of the state Intermediate Court of Appeals as part of the 2024 election.

Charleston-based attorney Mychal Schulz announced Tuesday he will run for the first seat up for election on the new appeals court. Speaking by phone Monday prior to Tuesday’s announcement, Schulz said he wants to bring his 31 years of experience as a litigator to the new court.

“While this is a new court and maybe not well known in the public, it’s a court that does incredibly important work and the three judges that sit on the court occupy very important positions within our judiciary,” Schulz said. “I’m running because I believe that my over 31 years of experience gives me a unique perspective and a unique opportunity to give back to the state and give back to the legal community.”

Schulz is a shareholder with the Babst Calland law firm in Charleston, specializing in litigation, employment and labor and energy and natural resources both in state and federal court.

A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Schulz’s entire legal career has been in West Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Virginia, graduating from the William and Mary School of Law in 1992.

Schulz is active in the legal profession, serving in county, state, and American bar associations. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute, where he serves on its Center for Law and Public Policy’s State Legislation and Rules Task Force. Schulz is president-elect of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, which includes defense attorneys throughout the state. The Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia named Schulz as Attorney of the Year in 2023, and he was named Lawyer of the Year in 2021 and 2023 by Best Lawyers.

“In that position, I have had to examine a lot of issues as it relates to the practice of law in West Virginia. Not just from a defense perspective, but also just the more general practice of law,” Schulz said. “I like to think that I have a good relationship with attorneys who practice on the other side of the bar, the trial bar. And it’s really given me a lot of both experience and insight into issues of impacting the judicial system in West Virginia.”

In his spare time, Schulz is a certified tennis official with the Mountain East Conference, an announcer for the University of Charleston’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and volleyball team, a co-host of The Tailgate on WTSQ-LP 88.1 FM in Charleston and immediate past chairman of Leadership West Virginia.

“I had opportunities over the years to leave, but I fell in love with the state and its people and I chose to remain here,” Schulz said. I raised a family here, two wonderful daughters, the youngest of whom will be graduating from West Virginia University in December. And I am a West Virginian by choice and I never have regretted that.”

Schulz will be the second pre candidate for the appeals court seat.

Steven Ryan White

According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, Charleston attorney and lobbyist Steven Ryan White filed pre candidacy papers on Nov. 15.

White founded the White Law Offices with his father, Steve White, in 2012. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the West Virginia University College of Law.

He was named a 40 Under 40 by The State Journal in 2016 and was named a Rising Star multiple years in a row by Super Lawyers.

According to the West Virginia Ethics Commission, White is a registered lobbyist for CommuniCare Family of Companies, Elevator Work Preservation Fund and Wheeling Island Racetrack & Casino. White is an elected member of the Kanawha County Board of Education. He also clerked for U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin.

The Intermediate Court of Appeals hears noncriminal appeals of circuit court cases, family court cases and guardianships and conservatorships, appeals of administrative law judge decisions and final orders and decisions by the state Health Care Authority. The intermediate court also replaces the Workers’ Compensation Office of Administrative Judges with a Workers’ Compensation Board of Review, from where decisions can be appealed to the intermediate court.

“According to the latest breakdown of cases before the Intermediate Court of appeals, over 30 percent of the appeals before the ICA are on civil appeals, and I bring, again, over 31 years of experience to those kinds of cases,” Schulz said. “In addition, I have had to deal with workers’ compensation claims and matters throughout my career because of some of my civil work. And I was also involved in the discussions that led to the changes to the workers’ compensation statute in 2015.”

“About 23 percent of the cases that are being appealed to the ICA right now are in family law matters. And while it’s not a regular part of my practice, I have handled family law matters,” Schulz continued. “I have done it, and I am familiar with the family law system.”

The Legislature created the court with Senate Bill 275 in 2021, completing its first year of operation in July. The court is supervised by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, which still has the ability to seek jurisdiction over civil cases appealed to the intermediate court. Parties in cases can also appeal to the Supreme Court, which hears cases at its own discretion.

The three ICA Judges were appointed in staggered terms. Gov. Jim Justice appointed Huntington attorney Thomas Scarr for a term ending in 2024, former Kanawha County circuit court judge Dan Greear for a term ending in 2026 and former Department of Revenue cabinet secretary Charles Lorensen for a term ending in 2028.

Filing for pre candidacy with the Secretary of State’s Office allows potential political candidates to raise funds and test support. However, the state Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits candidates for judicial offices from directly soliciting funds for their campaigns. Judicial races in West Virginia are also non-partisan.

The candidate filing period in West Virginia begins Jan. 8 through midnight on Jan. 27. Judicial elections are decided during the May 14 primary election.