Rockefeller And Byrd Recommend Berger And Rose For Judicial Posts

Press Release

U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Robert C. Byrd, both D-W.Va., today announced they have again recommended their long-time choices, the Honorable Irene C. Berger and Mr. Herschel H. "Ned" Rose, III, for Federal judgeships in West Virginia. The Senators recommended Berger to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Southern District and Rose to fill the existing vacancy in the Northern District.

Rockefeller and Byrd sent a letter to President-elect Barack Obama recommending Berger and Rose to the posts, stating, "Both Judge Berger and Mr. Rose have earned the respect of the legal community throughout the State of West Virginia, and we believe they would make exceptional Federal judges, serving with honor and distinction, just as Judge Faber and Judge Broadwater served before them."

Rockefeller and Byrd previously recommended Berger for the judgeship in 2004, and Rose in 2007. The current vacancy in the Southern District became available when the Honorable David A. Faber assumed senior status on December 31, 2008, and the Northern District vacancy was created by the untimely death of the Honorable W. Craig Broadwater

"Judge Berger has served Kanawha County with great distinction and I know she will do the same for the Southern District. Her outstanding contributions to her community are plentiful, and a sign of the compassion and fairness that are sure to serve West Virginians well," Rockefeller said. "I have known Ned for many years and he has all the right characteristics to make an outstanding judge. He is a devoted family man, an accomplished attorney, and someone who will serve with integrity and justice."

Senator Byrd added that, "Irene Berger has distinguished herself in the 13th Judicial Circuit as an exceptional adjudicator and conscientious public servant. I am proud to nominate her for a Federal post. I am also very pleased to nominate Ned Rose, who has consistently demonstrated a profound reverence for the Founding Fathers and the Constitution. Ned has the judicial temperament and personal integrity to make an outstanding judge and I know West Virginians will benefit greatly from having him serve on the Federal bench."

Berger is a native of Berwind and has served for 14 years as circuit judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit of West Virginia. Rose is a native of Fairmont and the principal of the Rose Law Office, where he practices civil litigation.

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