Rick Staton Biography

Rick Staton is no stranger to Southern West Virginia. Except for college and Law School, the Mullens attorney has spent his entire life in Wyoming County. Rick was born November 29, 1958, in Mullens West Virginia. His parents are William Robert and the late Marcella Joan Staton. Rick's father was a teacher and principal in the Wyoming County School system. Rick's mother owned a flower shop and was a pharmacy clerk. Delegate Staton has two older siblings: Vicki Lynn Fleshman, who lives in North Carolina, and Jack Warren, who lives in California. He is the proud father of three children: Carrie Michelle, Blair Louise and Bryce Richard. Staton graduated with high honors from Mullens High School in 1977. He then attended West Virginia University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree a semester early, in December, 1980, Magna Cum Laude. He then attended the West Virginia University College of Law, where he was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1984. Rick was an associate editor of the prestigious West Virginia Law Review and the Journal of College and University Law. He authored a published article for the Journal on the topic of Eligibility of High School Students for Professional Sports. He was also Chairman of the Judicial Board for the WVU Student Administration, equivalent of the Supreme Court for the student body. Rick was fortunate to achieve his dream of practicing law in his hometown of Mullens upon his graduation He was invited to join a practice with long-time attorney and former Prosecutor D. Grove Moler in 1984. This strong friendship and partnership continued until Mr. Moler retired in 2003 and passed away in 2005. Staton has always been active in the local and legal community. He is a member of the American Bar Association and West Virginia State Bar. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center; a Past President of the Mullens Rotary Club; Past President of the Mullens Area Development Task Force; and Past President of the Wyoming County Bar Association. He is the Chairman of the West Virginia Youth In Government Committee, which sponsors a model Legislature and Supreme Court for high school students each year. Rick is also a member of the Board of Directors of the West Virginia-Ohio YMCA. In addition to his legal career, Rick was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1988 to the 69 th Legislature. He has been elected every two years since, making him the longest serving delegate in Wyoming County history. In only his second term, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Redistricting. He played a key role in congressional and legislative redistricting, as well as restructuring of the Division of Environmental Protection and needed changes in criminal sentencing statutes. Rick remained Vice Chairman of Judiciary until 1994, when he was appointed Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. Judiciary is the busiest committee in the House of Delegates, where most bills are referred. Rick was instrumental in the creation of the family court system, the Courthouse Facilities Commission, which funds needed improvements and historical preservation of county courthouses, and revamping of our workers' compensation laws. In 2001, House Speaker Bob Kiss named Delegate Staton as Majority Leader of the House of Delegates. He is responsible for maintaining the flow of legislation on the floor, and acts as a key advisor to the Speaker and committee chairs. He is also responsible for the administrative function of the House, including purchasing, technology, and employment. The Majority Leader pushed and oversaw the development of the House's Chamber Automation System. This system gives each member a notebook computer and instant access to bills, related documents, email, and other information. He also supervised the implementation of the wireless access system for access to legislative information by the public. Subscriptions to this system were so successful that the system paid for itself in the first year. His term of office in the House will expire at the end of 2006. Rick's leadership and accomplishments have been recognized outside of West Virginia's borders. He was a member of the Delegation to the Peoples Republic of China, American Council of Young Political Leaders in 1994. He was one of 40 alumni of over 600 selected to serve on a delegation to Japan in 2006. The Majority Leader was selected the National Program for Emerging Political Leaders at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia in 1993. Only 20 persons nationwide were selected for the program. He has received training in public sector mediation from Harvard University. Rick is in Who's Who in America; was the Democrat of the Year for Wyoming County in 1994; and is a member of the Southern Legislative Conference, the National Conference of State Legislatures; and the Council of State Government; Rick is also the House Chair of the Democratic Legislative Council. Mr. Staton is admitted to practice law before all state and federal courts in West Virginia. He is one of the few attorneys in Southern West Virginia who is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a certified mediator, and has received training in West Virginia and at Harvard University.