Associated Press Published

Magistrate Admonished After Posting Bond for Grandaughter

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The West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission has admonished a Brooke County magistrate who posted her granddaughter’s bond.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that vice chairwoman of the judicial commission Gail C. Boober wrote in a public admonishment last week that Linda J.R. Viderman disregarded state law which states that a magistrate cannot post bond for any other individual, including a family member.

The admonishment also accuses Viderman of speaking with the special magistrate who was appointed to her granddaughter’s case. Viderman’s granddaughter was charged in Brooke County Magistrate Court with misdemeanor battery in 2015.

Viderman couldn’t immediately be reached for comment by the newspaper Monday, but she had previously stated that she was surprised that it could be construed as a violation to post bond for a family member.