CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County has nine experienced magistrates, all Democrats. We believe all of them are worth returning to the bench this fall:

Traci Carper-Strickland, Julie M. Yeager, Jack L. Pauley, Joe L. Shelton, Paris Workman, Kim Aaron, Pete C. Lopez, Tim Halloran and Ward Harshbarger.

For the 10th seat, vacated by Republican Carol Fouty, who resigned as part of a settlement with the State Judicial Investigation Commission, we would add newcomer Brent Hall, another Democrat, a paralegal who appears ready to learn the job.

County magistrates hold nighttime and holiday hearings. They preside over misdemeanor cases and civil disputes involving smaller amounts of money. They conduct preliminary hearings for felony cases and handle complaints, arrest warrants, search warrants, bail, domestic violence petitions and sometimes mental health questions.