CHARLESTON – With just under three months left before ending his second and final term as West Virginia’s chief executive, Gov. Jim Justice announced new appointments Wednesday, moving one cabinet official to the judicial branch, and appointing a new House of Delegates member for Jefferson County.

Justice appointed Mark Sorsaia, the cabinet secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, as one of two judges for the 29th judicial circuit serving Putnam County. Sorsaia will succeed former Circuit Judge Joseph Reeder, who is now a federal magistrate. The 29th judicial circuit will become the 7th judicial circuit beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

“Mark, you’ve been a superstar working with us and everything,” Justice said Wednesday during his weekly administration briefing from the State Capitol Building. “You’ll be an unbelievable judge. We know your resume is outstanding beyond belief. Mark, we congratulate you. It’s been one great big honor to work with you. You’ve done great work. Now go on and just make us even more proud as one of our judges. I don’t think anyone could ever dispute the credentials that you have to take this position.”

Sorsaia succeeded former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeff Sandy, who retired effective July 31, 2023. Sorsaia was an assistant prosecuting attorney in Putnam County in 1988 and elected as Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney in 1996.

Deputy Department of Homeland Security Secretary Rob Cunningham will serve as interim secretary.

Justice also appointed Raymond Joe Funkhouser of Charles Town to fill the vacancy of Del. Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson, in the House of Delegates 98th district. Funkhouser is the GOP candidate for the open 98th District seat, facing Democratic opponent Troy N. Miller in the November election.

“Raymond has won the primary and he’s absolutely going to win,” Justice said. “We think he is going to do a fabulous job. Today was an opportunity for me to appoint him and everything. I hope he will come down and see me and see me real soon. I know he is a popular choice, and rightfully so.”

Espinosa resigned last week after being appointed by Justice to the state Racing Commission. The appointment was confirmed by the state Senate the same day. Espinosa, who first took office in the House in 2013, lost a Republican primary in May, challenging state Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson.

“It’s been an honor to represent my district in the West Virginia House of Delegates and I welcome the opportunity to ensure that the Eastern Panhandle continues to have effective representation on the West Virginia Racing Commission,” Espinosa said in a social media post last week.

This week’s appointments follow the announced upcoming appointment of Nicholas Preservati, the executive director of the West Virginia Public Energy Authority, to the position of acting cabinet secretary of the Department of Commerce following the impending resignation of former cabinet secretary James Bailey,

Bailey, a former deputy secretary and general counsel for the Department of Commerce, will be taking a job with the law firm Spilman Thomas and Battle. Bailey’s resignation is effective Friday.

“I want to take a moment to t​hank Secretary Bailey for all of his hard work over the years,” Justice said in a statement last week. “I think of James as a good friend. He’s highly qualified and has done an excellent job at Commerce. I wish him nothing but the best. James will undoubtedly be very successful in the future, and I couldn’t be happier for him and his family. He’s done an outstanding job in his role as Secretary, leading some really big efforts.”

“It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the citizens of West Virginia as part of Gov. Justice’s administration,” Bailey said. “With leadership and guidance from Gov. Justice, I was empowered to work every day to make West Virginia a better place to live, work, and raise a family. I have no doubt that we have accomplished that, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that opportunity.”