OAK HILL, WV (WOAY) – Newswatch is continuing to cover Fayette County’s circuit court race in the upcoming May election.
Our latest interview is with Ray “Wes” Toney, who owns and operates a law firm in Oak Hill and previously served as chief assistant prosecuting attorney in Fayette County.
“It was a position that allowed me to give back to the community, to serve the community… as the circuit judge, it would give me that opportunity as well,” he said.
Toney is a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of West Virginia University College of Law. He began his legal career as a malpractice attorney and also served as counsel in the West Virginia State Senate. He currently serves as city prosecutor for Oak Hill.
Toney said his experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney has uniquely prepared him for the bench.
“It’s important that if you’re in the courtroom, if you’re a victim, do you have a judge that has prosecuted someone who has harmed people?” Toney said. “Conversely, if you’re accused, you have a judge up there who has defended people from these allegations.”
“I understand what everyone’s going through in that courtroom.”
