BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — 3:30 p.m. July 28, 2020: Raleigh County Chief Judge Andrew Dimlich announced who will fill the magistrate position left vacant by Steve Massie. The news came on Tuesday afternoon.

Judge Dimlich said they appointed Beckley criminal defense attorney Pat Lamp will be the new magistrate. Lamp will hold the position until the end of December.

A new magistrate is elected in November and sworn in starting in 2021.

ORIGINAL STORY — 5:22 p.m., July 22, 2020: Raleigh County Circuit Court Judges are working on appointing a new magistrate.

This comes after former magistrate, Steve Massie, won the Primary Election in June 2020, despite resigning a few months before. The position will be on the ballot in the November, since Massie’s resignation was within 84 days of the election.

“I understand that it will be on the November ballot. I have reached out to the Secretary of State’s office to ask exactly what I need to do to post. It is my understanding that anybody who wants to run for that position can file and run,” said Andrew Dimlich, Raleigh Co. Chief Circuit Judge.

Dimlich confirmed the position will be added to the General Election Ballot in November. Interested candidates must file a certificate of announcement with the Raleigh County Clerk’s Office anytime between August 3 and August 18, 2020.

The four judges will appoint an interim magistrate who will hold the position until the end of the year. The interim magistrate will be able to run for the full position as well.

The judges have not announced who they will appoint yet.