Kanawha Circuit Judge James Stucky has approved all four of the bail bonds companies who applied to begin working in Kanawha.
On Thursday, his last day as chief judge, Stucky filed an order granting the application of "We Spring Bail Bonds."
Stucky signed an administrative order in October allowing bondsmen back in Kanawha County. Individual bondsmen must apply and get approval from the chief judge before they begin working. The process requires that the company attend a hearing before the chief judge.
On Friday, Kanawha Circuit Judge Tod Kaufman took over as chief judge.
Stucky had previously filed orders granting the applications of 1A Bonds Inc., 1st Action Enterprises Inc., and Amy Hass, despite objections from at least one judge and the county's Public Defender's Office.
Kanawha Circuit Judge Duke Bloom is against allowing the practice back in Kanawha and the heads of the Kanawha Public Defender's Office have filed a petition arguing that the order Stucky entered was never approved by state Supreme Court justices, among other things.
