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Petition Seeks to Keep Republican Appointees Off Court
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – A lawyer has filed a petition that seeks to stop a Republican congressman and a former state House speaker from serving on the West Virginia Supreme Court.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appointed U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins and ex-Speaker Tim Armstead to fill interim state Supreme Court openings created in the fallout of impeachment proceedings.
News outlets report Charleston lawyer William Schwartz is also running for a seat on the Supreme Court and filed a petition Thursday that seeks to prohibit the appointments and to stop Jenkins from appearing on the ballot in the general election.
Jenkins called the petition a “desperate, partisan effort” to keep him from “restoring honesty, integrity and accountability” to the court. Armstead called the petition “legally unfounded” and said he’s confident in his ability to fulfill the appointment.