Bill Flanigan
Non-Partisan | West Virginia
Candidate Profile*
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Bill Flanigan
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary and Municipal General
Race
Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Div., 2
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Candidate did not provide
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
OTHER (1)
*West Virginia Medical PAC
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Geno Chiarelli (2024)
State Republican Party Organizations (2024)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Building Trades Councils (2024)
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (2024)
Laborers International Union of North America (includes nat, state & local) (2024)
United Mine Workers of America (2024)
OTHER INFORMATION
Flanigan commented and voted against SB 474 of 2025, a bill to eliminate divisions, officers, programs, trainings, and policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion from all departments, divisions, agencies, boards, public primary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher education.
In March of 2024, The Intelligencer: Wheeling Register reported on Flanigan's desire to return to the WV House of Delegates after treatment for cancer and his strong support for medical marijuana based on his experiences during chemotherapy.
Bill Flanigan participated in the 2024 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Bill Flanigan's 2024 campaign website for WV House of Delegates, Dist. 4 (archived).
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Was Dobbs v. Jackson rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: In Dobbs, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the federal constitution does not confer a right to abortion.)
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Does the federal Constitution support the right to physician assisted suicide? Please explain in light of Washington v. Glucksberg (1997).
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Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
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How do you view the judiciary’s role in matters of abortion regulation following Dobbs?
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RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Do you believe religious liberty is at risk in the United States. If so, what is the judiciary's proper role in addressing this issue?
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Does the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment require government to be strictly secular or does it allow for the nation's religious heritage?
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Was Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held tha the state may not show religious hostility when enforcing anti-discrimination laws against a business owner.)
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
The burden of proof in a criminal case is generally that the state must provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Some say the reason the burden of proof is so high is because we greatly value ensuring that the innocent are not unjustly imprisoned. Please comment on this topic.
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When reviewing wrongful conviction claims, what role, if any, should judges play in determining remedies?
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2ND AMENDMENT
What is your understanding of the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms?
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OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Which branch of government do you believe was intended to wield the most authority?
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JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
Describe your judicial philosophy.
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Do you believe judges should primarily apply the law according to its original public meaning, or do you believe the law evolves over time to reflect contemporary values?
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Which current or past U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
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Was Obergefell v. Hodges rightly decided according to the text of the Constitution? Please explain. (Holding: The U.S. Supreme Court held Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses create a right for same-sex couples to marry.)
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A. How should a judge approach a case where the constitutional or statutory text is clear on its face? B. Conversely, how should a judge proceed when the text is ambiguous or silent on a disputed issue?
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What is your view of judicial restraint versus judicial activism? How do you define each?
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What is the proper role of a judge?
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When applying or interpreting the text of a statute or constitutional provision, is it ever proper for a judge to consider present day public opinion or consequences?
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If precedent departs from the Constitution’s text or original meaning, should a judge follow it or correct the error? Please explain.
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ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
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Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
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I voted in these primaries and general elections:
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VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
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What is your understanding of parental rights under the Constitution regarding the upbringing of children, particularly regarding choices about education and sexual identity?
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Is gender identity a protected class under the Constitution? Please explain the constitutional basis for your view.
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