All four justices on West Virginia’s Supreme Court of Appeals were impeached by the state’s House of Delegates and will now undergo an impeachment trial in the Senate.
Lawmakers initially voted to impeach Justices Allen Loughry and Robin Davis for updating Supreme Court offices with state funding, and Chief Justice Margaret Workman was impeached for signing documents, along with Davis, that gave retired senior status judges more payment than lawfully permitted. Justice
Late Monday, Justice Elizabeth Walker was also impeached when the House approved an article of impeachment, outlining that the justices took advantage of their authority.
A fifth judge, Menis Ketchum, resigned last month and agreed to plead guilty to a single count of wire fraud.
The West Virginia House Judiciary Committee voted last week to impeach four of the state Supreme Court justices, approving 14 articles of impeachment against them.
“It’s a sad day, and it certainly isn’t a cause for celebration,” Judiciary Chairman John Shott, a Republican, said last week.
In the event that the justices are removed before they reach only two years remaining in their 12-year terms, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice will appoint temporary judges and a special election will be held in May 2020 to replace them
