CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County Circuit Judge will determine if Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin is entitled to $500,000 in public financing for his re-election campaign.
One of Benjamin’s rivals for the spot on the court, Beth Walker, has filed a petition to prevent Benjamin from spending the money.
The State Election Commission previously said he had qualified for the funding under a pilot program designed to cut the influence of big private dollars in court elections, but Walker argued Benjamin missed deadlines and did not get the required signatures.
Benjamin’s lawyer claims they were late because of computer problems at the Secretary of States office, and there’s no evidence that the donations are not legitimate.
Walker, Benjamin, Bill Wooten, Darrell McGraw and Wayne King are the candidates for the state Supreme Court.