John Nicholls Charnock Jr. of Charleston, a prominent Charleston attorney and former Municipal Court Judge, passed away on Monday, April 19, 2010, at home after a long illness. He was 80.
A father of five, he had a long career in public service in his hometown of Charleston, where he started in the practice of law with his father. He represented Kanawha County in the West Virginia House of Delegates shortly after finishing law school, served as Municipal Court Clerk for the city of Charleston before being elected the city's Municipal Court Judge from 1967 to 1975. From 1983 to 1991, he served as City Attorney for Charleston. He was a former chairman of both the Kanawha County Building Commission and the West Virginia Ethics Commission, as well as a former president of the Kanawha County Bar Association.
A prominent Republican, he was known for his razor-sharp wit in the political arena, abundant common sense, and his kindness among friends and strangers. As a jurist, Judge Charnock made legal history as the first judge in the nation to admit videotaped evidence in a court proceeding.
He was the beloved husband to Patricia Ann Caldwell of Charleston for 46 years and together they were the loving parents of their five children, Anne Charnock, Jane Charnock (Jim) Smallridge, Mary Lynn Harless, and John (Carolyn) Charnock, all of Charleston, and Bill (Kelly) Charnock of Bloomington, Ill. He is also survived by his sister, Isabelle Charnock of St. Albans; and his five grandsons, Jonathan and Robert Harless and John Patrick Jr. and Ryan Charnock, all of Charleston, and Will Charnock, of Bloomington, Ill.
Mr. Charnock was a graduate from West Virginia University, where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and earned his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law. He served as Past Master of Kanawha Lodge 20 AF&AM, 32 degree KCCH Scottish Rite, Valley of Charleston, Orient of West Virginia, and Noble, Beni Kedem Shriners. He was a member of the Charleston Elk Club and past president of the Charleston Lions Club. He was a longtime member and loyal servant of Elizabeth Memorial United Methodist Church in Charleston and a U.S. Army veteran.
