Ryan Blake, a Greenbrier County assistant prosecuting attorney, is running for the office of circuit court judge for Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties to promote fairness, balance, and accountability for the judiciary.
“I have dedicated my professional career to public service, trying my best to always make the right decisions for the right reasons to keep our county safe for your family and for mine, while striving to be fair to all parties, and I intend to bring that approach to the bench,” he said.
Blake was raised in the Greenbrier Valley by his parents, Brenda Blake and the late Ralph Blake. “I grew up in a family where the values of honesty, integrity, responsibility, and compassion for others were held in high esteem.” A 1998 Greenbrier East graduate, Blake earned his bachelor’s degree with honors at Bridgewater College in Virginia. He attended law school at Penn State University’s Dickinson School of Law, where he was an editor of the Penn State Environmental Law Review.
Following law school, in 2005, Blake returned home to work as a judicial law clerk for the Hon. Frank E. Jolliffe. He attended court proceedings, conducted legal research, and discussed cases and issues with the sitting judges. “That experience provided me the opportunity to become familiar with judicial process and gain an appreciation for the role of a circuit judge.”
In 2007, Blake joined the Greenbrier County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, where for nearly 17 years he has appeared regularly in the courtroom, handling an expansive and diverse caseload on behalf of the citizens of Greenbrier County. “I have extensive jury trial experience on matters of substantial community concern that impact the peace, safety, and welfare of citizens: murders, sexual assaults, home invasions, crimes against children, and various drug crimes,” he said. “My background has equipped me with valuable insights and a strong foundation for the judiciary. I have developed an extensive legal knowledge, and an ability to properly analyze evidence, and demonstrated a commitment to upholding justice and the law fairly and impartially.”
Representing the prosecuting attorney’s office in the Southeastern Regional Drug Court program to combat drug abuse has also been a rewarding experience. “While offenders need to be held accountable for their crimes, we have been able to provide certain eligible persons with the necessary structure and an opportunity for treatment to break the cycle of addiction that is plaguing our community. I am very proud of those efforts, and I will work to build and improve upon those programs.”
In addition to his legal background, Blake cites his relationship with the members of the local bar, as well as the people, offices, and agencies that are routinely involved with the court system as a strength of his candidacy. “Because of my experience as a trial attorney, I have empathy and compassion for the consequential decisions made by the attorneys, their clients, victims, witnesses, and interested parties before they ever step foot in the courtroom; therefore, I promise to treat everyone who comes into my courtroom with civility and respect. I will also strive to be on time, be prepared, and focus on the efficient administration of justice, making decisions and rulings in a timely fashion.”
Believing community concern does not end when the office door closes, Blake and his family remain highly involved in the local community. “I am no stranger to ball games, bike races, school functions, church, organizations, and local businesses. This relationship is important for a judge: it provides a chance to converse with your neighbors to understand and appreciate our shared community values, needs, and sentiments. It also allows a judge to be accessible to the community, not isolated from it.”
Blake resides in Lewisburg with his wife, Heather, and their three children, Andrew, Brandt, and John.
