Reports of corruption, lavish overspending, and abuses of authority on the part of West Virginia’s four sitting Supreme Court justices have dominated area headlines in recent months — and state lawmakers have finally decided to do something about it.
All four of West Virginia’s Supreme Court justices were impeached by a vote in the state House of Delegates on Monday.
Overstepping their bounds
According to The Hill, all four justices were impeached for abusing their authority. Two of them were also impeached for overspending taxpayer money on office renovations, and one was also impeached for using state-owned equipment and vehicles for personal activities.
Justice Allen Loughry was impeached on eight separate counts that included spending more than $363,000 on office renovations, as well as for transferring a $42,000 antique desk and state-owned computers to his home. He was also charged with using state-owned vehicles for personal use and for lying to members of the House Finance Committee about the issues.
Aside from being impeached from the court, Loughry faces other trouble in the form of a federal indictment on multiple felony counts that include mail and wire fraud, lying to federal investigators, obstruction of justice and witness tampering, among others, according to NBC News.
Justice Robin Davis was impeached for her abuse of authority and for spending more than $500,000 on office renovations.
More scandal
Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justice Beth Workman were let off the hook for the cost of their own office renovations — $111,000 and $131,000, respectively — but were nevertheless impeached for abuse of authority.
At issue for Workman was her signing off on allowing senior status judges to receive higher wages than were allowed by state law.
A former justice who would have been the fifth sitting justice — and likely would have been impeached along with the others — was Menis Ketchum, who resigned from the bench in disgrace in July and has since pleaded guilty to one count of federal wire fraud.
The impeachment process will now move to the state Senate for a trial with Circuit Judge Paul T. Farrell specially sworn in to serve as chief justice temporarily. The trial should begin in September, though a clear timeline for the procedure has yet to be set.
[show_poll poll_id=720]
Should the four justices ultimately be found guilty and removed from office by the state Senate, West Virginia’s Republican Gov. Jim Justice will be allowed to appoint justices to replace them who would serve until at least 2020, at which point new elections would be held. Had the justices been impeached prior to August 14, their seats would have been placed on this year’s ballot.
These four state supreme court justices are all alleged to have abused the authority vested in them and wasted taxpayer money on frivolous and personal expenses — and evidently, corruption like that simply won’t be tolerated in West Virginia.
1,009 Responses
I simply couldn’t leave your website before suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the usual info an individual supply to your visitors? Is going to be back steadily to investigate cross-check new posts|
Temperature Screening
Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to present something back and help others such as you aided me.|
GEM-CAR auto repair shop management software is arguably the most comprehensive software of its kind currently available. Lauded for its easy to use modules including CRM, digital inspection and electronic punch clock: it provides the repair shop operator with a complete system to run the business. GEM-CAR puts the shop operator firmly in the driver’s seat. And if you are a fleet operator look for GEM-FLEET our fleet management software.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on. All the best
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks, I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
Perfectly written subject material, Really enjoyed studying.
Attractive part of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to claim that I acquire in fact loved account your blog posts. Anyway Ill be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access constantly fast.
Hello, I enjoy reading through your article post. I wanted to write a little comment to support you.|
whoah this blog is fantastic i like studying your articles. Stay up the great work! You realize, many individuals are hunting around for this info, you could help them greatly.
Hello my loved one! I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include almost all vital infos. I would like to peer more posts like this.
Thanks, I’ve just been searching for info approximately this subject for a long time and yours is the best I’ve came upon till now. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure in regards to the supply?
Find The Top Rated Web Hosting
Great article. I am facing a few of these issues as well..
Our Mushroomburger The signature Mushroomburger patty was created back in 1979. Still to everyone’s surprise, it is approximately made up of 50 mushrooms and 50 real beef.
76719 13570I conceive this web internet site holds some real superb details for everybody : D. 290198
I need to to thank you for this fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it. I’ve got you book marked to look at new things you post…
You are so interesting! I do not believe I have read something like this before. So wonderful to discover somebody with a few unique thoughts on this subject. Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This web site is something that is required on the internet, someone with a bit of originality!
I have not checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
I simply could not go away your site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information an individual provide for your visitors? Is gonna be again regularly to check up on new posts.
Wonderful post! We are linking to this great content on our site. Keep up the good writing.
Aw, this was a really good post. Finding the time and actual effort to make a great article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and never seem to get anything done.
Site Rank Services offers affordable premium SEO packages & helps increase the visibility of your site in the search engines. We help you generate more profits
I was reading some of your blog posts on this internet site and I conceive this site is rattling informative! Keep putting up.
I’ll immediately take hold of your rss feed as I can’t in finding your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please permit me know in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
You’ve made some decent points there. I checked on the net to find out more about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.
Thanks for the helpful content. It is also my opinion that mesothelioma cancer has an really long latency interval, which means that warning signs of the disease may not emerge right until 30 to 50 years after the preliminary exposure to asbestos fiber. Pleural mesothelioma, that is the most common type and has effects on the area round the lungs, could potentially cause shortness of breath, chest pains, and also a persistent cough, which may result in coughing up maintain.
Hello! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Thank you|
Amazing things here. I’m very satisfied to see your article. Thank you a lot and I’m having a look ahead to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
Shopify fitness store
Quality articles, I am waiting for your next article. keep working
You should be a part of a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this website!
Shopify gadget store
Merely a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw great style. “He profits most who serves best.” by Arthur F. Sheldon.
I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something too few men and women are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I found this during my hunt for something regarding this.
After going over a handful of the blog articles on your web page, I truly appreciate your technique of blogging. I book marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my web site as well and tell me how you feel.
I have been examinating out a few of your stories and i can state clever stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your website.
It’s an remarkable piece of writing for all the web viewers; they will get advantage from it I am sure.
I was able to find good information from your content.
There’s certainly a lot to find out about this subject. I like all the points you’ve made.