The state Supreme Court has appointed a three-judge panel to hear a petition to remove Parkersburg mayor Robert Newell from office.
The court on Friday appointed circuit judges Omar Aboulhosn of Mercer County, Lawrance Miller Jr. of Preston County and Joanna Tabit of Kanawha County to hear the petition filed earlier this week. The petition was filed by Wood County Republican Party chairman Rob Cornelius on behalf of a group of residents.
Among the allegations against Newell in the petition are misconduct and neglect of duty. It seeks Newell’s immediate removal.
The high court set a hearing for June 4 and 5 at the Wood County courthouse in Parkersburg.
Newell didn’t immediately return a telephone message left at his office Friday.