Tag: Judicial Investigation Commission

Filing Opens Next Month for West Virginia Supreme Court Seat

Candidates interested in seeking an unexpired term on the West Virginia Supreme Court can file next month for a special election.

Secretary of State Mac Warner says the filing dates for the seat of former Justice Menis Ketchum will run from Aug. 6 through Aug. 21. The special election will be held concurrently with the Nov. 6 general election.

Candidates must be at least 30 years old, residents of West Virginia for at least five years and admitted to practice law for at least 10 years.

Warner’s office says in a news release that interested candidates who already are on a partisan ballot for elected office should consult the Judicial Investigation Commission.

Ketchum announced his retirement earlier this month. He had two years remaining in his term.

Panel Clears 3 West Virginia Justices in Ethics Cases

The West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission says it has closed ethics investigations involving three state Supreme Court justices without disciplinary action.

The commission issued letters Monday to Justices Robin Jean Davis and Beth Walker and Chief Justice Margaret L. Workman closing all outstanding complaints against them.

The commission said in a news release that the complaints filed by the Judicial Disciplinary Counsel alleged the justices violated the Code of Judicial Conduct by using state funds to pay for lunches for themselves, their administrative assistants and court security officers while they were discussing cases and administrative matters in conference.

But the commission found the lunches made the court more efficient.

The commission investigated allegations against Justice Allen Loughry and filed a 32-count statement of charges against him on June 6.

Special Counsel Recommends Randolph Co. Judge Suspension

A special counsel is recommending that a Randolph County judge be suspended without pay for four years.

Rachael Fletcher Cipoletti also recommends that Circuit Judge Jaymie Wilfong be censured.

Cipoletti is special judicial disciplinary counsel for the Judicial Investigation Commission. She made the recommendations in a brief filed Tuesday.

The brief says Wilfong had an affair with the former director of North Central Community Corrections and refused to recuse herself from cases involving him or his staff. The brief also alleges that Wilfong performed sexual acts on him in her chambers between court proceedings.

Wilfong’s lawyers say in a response that her conduct doesn’t justify what they call the “death penalty.”

The case is before the Judicial Hearing Board, which will make a recommendation to the West Virginia Supreme Court.

         

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