WEST Virginia's Supreme Court has suffered a credibility problem in recent years. The best candidates for the all-important task of restoring the public's confidence in its highest court are Bob Bastress and Menis Ketchum.

They are also well qualified.

Bastress is a law professor at West Virginia University, where he has taught for 30 years. He is an acknowledged expert on Constitutional law. He attended Wesleyan University of Connecticut and then got a law degree at Vanderbilt University. He earned a master of laws degree at Temple University and worked as a Legal Services lawyer before becoming a professor.

Ketchum, of Huntington, joined his father's law firm in 1967, where he is now the senior partner. He has handled insurance defense, personal injury cases, criminal prosecution and defense, maritime cases and the Federal Employers' Liability Act. He grew up in Wayne County schools, is a graduate of Ohio University in Athens, and received his law degree from WVU.

Bastress and Ketchum are running for the Democratic nomination to two open seats on the court. Supreme Court justices serve for 12-year terms.

Members of the court have spent much time in recent months wrangling over whether to step down from cases involving friends or conflicts.

Both Ketchum and Bastress say there is a perception around the state that Supreme Court verdicts depend on who your lawyer is. Ketchum goes even further, saying, "It's not just an appearance. It's true."

West Virginia must have a high court in which all residents have confidence. Litigants must feel that, no matter whether they win or lose, their arguments were heard and considered. Anything less erodes the public's trust and eats away at the court's ability to dispense justice that West Virginians respect and accept.

For that reason, Bastress and Ketchum would be superb additions to the court.

They are also well qualified.

Bastress is a law professor at West Virginia University, where he has taught for 30 years. He is an acknowledged expert on Constitutional law. He attended Wesleyan University of Connecticut and then got a law degree at Vanderbilt University. He earned a master of laws degree at Temple University and worked as a Legal Services lawyer before becoming a professor.

Ketchum, of Huntington, joined his father's law firm in 1967, where he is now the senior partner. He has handled insurance defense, personal injury cases, criminal prosecution and defense, maritime cases and the Federal Employers' Liability Act. He grew up in Wayne County schools, is a graduate of Ohio University in Athens, and received his law degree from WVU.

Bastress and Ketchum are running for the Democratic nomination to two open seats on the court. Supreme Court justices serve for 12-year terms.

Members of the court have spent much time in recent months wrangling over whether to step down from cases involving friends or conflicts.

Both Ketchum and Bastress say there is a perception around the state that Supreme Court verdicts depend on who your lawyer is. Ketchum goes even further, saying, "It's not just an appearance. It's true."

West Virginia must have a high court in which all residents have confidence. Litigants must feel that, no matter whether they win or lose, their arguments were heard and considered. Anything less erodes the public's trust and eats away at the court's ability to dispense justice that West Virginians respect and accept.

For that reason, Bastress and Ketchum would be superb additions to the court.