FAIRMONT — The Times West Virginian believes acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has made a good selection in appointing attorney Michael Aloi to succeed retiring Circuit Judge Fred Fox in Marion County.

Aloi, a Democrat, will have to file to run for the remainder of Fox’s term. He will need to run in the May primary in 2012, and if he wins, the general election in November.

Aloi is married to wife Susan, who has a doctorate in higher education, and they have four grown children. They own a home in Buckhannon. He rents a place in Farmington, his hometown.

“As far as I’m concerned, Marion County is my home and I intend to be there,” he said. “I grew up in Marion County. My family still lives here, and I have practiced law here for the past 28 years.”

Aloi has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) and is listed as one of only five lawyers in the state of West Virginia as a Super Lawyer in the field of ADR. He is the only lawyer in West Virginia to be a Fellow of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators. He received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, according to his firm’s website.

“Judge Fox dedicated himself to providing justice for the people of Marion County, and he leaves behind a legacy that will not be easily duplicated,” Tomblin said in a statement issued Friday. “With his longtime leadership and legal expertise, I believe Michael will serve the people of Marion County well as circuit judge.”

Marion County is indeed fortunate to have a number of candidates of high quality — any of which could have fulfilled the office and done a good job. Of course, no one will fill the shoes of Judge Fred Fox, who announced his retirement in November. He has been a solid fixture in that position for more than 40 years. Marion County also is very fortunate in having a strong history of good circuit judges. David Janes is an excellent judge as well.

Aloi says he received some excellent advice from his uncle, John Manchin Sr., founder of the Manchin Clinic in the family’s hometown of Farmington.

He was preparing to graduate from West Virginia Wesleyan College and was contemplating the kind of public service he might want to pursue as a career. John Manchin told him to “go to law school. You’ll have more choice in what you want to do and how you want to serve if you go to law school.”

His first cousin, Tim Manchin, was three years ahead of him and was already attending the West Virginia University College of Law. Aloi followed suit and several years later, his cousin returned home and they went into business together. In 1983 they established Manchin & Aloi in Fairmont.

Aloi became one of the first in a group of attorneys to train to be a mediator after a decision was made that all civil suits in the state would first go to a mediator who would try to work out an agreement between the two parties involved. Mediation now takes up about one-half of Aloi’s career and has influenced the way he practices law. He says the success rate is as high as 80 to 90 percent. He believes being a mediator has helped him to become a better lawyer.

Aloi is a member of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators and has trained mediators in West Virginia for more than 20 years. He also serves as adjunct faculty at the WVU College of Law, where he is a clinical law program supervisor. Aloi was the first Marion County attorney since Herschel Rose in 1968-69 to serve as president of the State Bar Association. He says about midway through your career, “you begin to think of things that would allow me to make a contribution to society and the judiciary would be a good fit for me.”

Marion County Democratic Chairman Belinda Biafore believes Aloi’s experience in mediation and the fact he has served on national boards for people all over the country brings a lot to a judge’s seat. She also believes the five names sent to the governor said a lot for the quality of lawyers in Marion County.

Aloi is a highly competent attorney and one who is truly qualified for the position he was seeking. There were five good men seeking the judgeship in Marion County. There can be no argument with the appointment of Michael Aloi for the position.