maryclaire Akers

Judge Akers has dedicated her entire career to serving the people of West Virginia and the citizens of Kanawha County.

For most of the past twenty years, Judge Akers was a Kanawha County Assistant Prosecutor focusing on serious crime.

She was also General Counsel for the West Virginia Ethics commission and an Assistant Attorney General. 

Judge Akers has served on the boards of Daymark, Charleston Area Medical Center and Harmony Health. She has served on the board of the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the West Virginians Against Violence Committee and the West Virginia Center for Children's Justice. 

Judge Akers has tried a multitude of serious felony cases ranging from murder, robbery, malicious wounding, sexual assault and other violent crimes. 

Along with many high profile murder cases, Judge Akers also prosecuted Shawn Lester, the Kanawha County Sniper; worked to shut down the Park Place Bar on Charleston's West Side and worked to protect crime victims. 

Some of her cases can be seen on:

ID Channel; Nightmare Next Door, season 2, Episode 216 "Writing on the Wall;" ID Channel; Evil Kin, Episode 102 "The Mallo Family;" The Killing Season;Season 1, Episode 6, "A Killer on the Road;" Talos Films; Heart of Darkness, Season 1, Episode 1, "Lust for Murder."She has also appeared on CNN, Tonight with Don Lemon, July 27, 2015; "The Shocking Story of a Woman Who Fought Back Against a Suspected Serial Killer - and Lived to Tell About It."

Judge Akers is committed to serving Kanawha County.

She will:

Reduce continuances in juvenile abuse and neglect cases.  At-risk children deserve stability; 

Increase access to drug treatment and services for families in crisis; 

Reduce delays in civil proceedings

Increase Court efficiency

Reduce continuances in Criminal cases;

Protect the community while protecting the rights of those in her courtroom;

Respect her role as a judge in upholding rather than making law.