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W. Va. Lawmakers Turn Focus To Stoppage of Impeachment Trials
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – Now that a suspended West Virginia Supreme Court justice has resigned, lawmakers are turning their attention to a panel of justices that had cut off pending impeachment trials.
After Justice Allen Loughry’s resignation, the state Senate wants to revisit an Oct. 11 order halting the Legislature’s efforts to impeach three justices as a violation of the separate of power doctrine. The court hasn’t scheduled a hearing on the Senate’s request.
The panel of acting justices ruled the Senate lacked jurisdiction to pursue Justice Margaret Workman’s impeachment trial. The decision also was applied to trials involving retired Justice Robin Davis and Loughry. Loughry recently was convicted of federal charges.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael called it a “ridiculous, crazy decision.”
Loughry resigned effective Monday. He’s the third justice to leave the five-member court in recent months.