West Liberty University President Robin C. Capehart has announced that West Virginia First Judicial Circuit Court Judge Arthur M. Recht will deliver the commencement address at the university’s graduation exercises on Dec. 10.

“We are honored to have such a highly-respected jurist as Judge Recht to speak to our graduates and their guests,” Capehart said.

Judge Recht received a B.A. degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law. He is former chair of the West Virginia State Bar Committee on Legal Ethics and has been a member of the Governor’s Committee on Selection of Judicial Candidates for Circuit Courts and of the Wheeling Human Rights Commission. In 2008, the West Virginia Association for Justice named him “Judge of the Year.” He formerly served on the W. Va. Supreme Court of Appeals and recently announced that he would be retiring after 20 years as a circuit judge in Ohio County.

One hundred and forty-three students are expected to complete graduation requirements during the fall semester. Forty-six students will be completing Bachelor of Arts degrees, 92 will be completing Bachelor of Science degrees and five students will complete requirements for a Master of Arts in Education degree. Christopher Cox of Triadelphia, W.Va., will be the graduating student speaker.

Commencement ceremonies are scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Academic Sports and Recreation Complex. A band concert will begin at 10:30 a.m. Doors will open for seating at 9:30 a.m.