CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the state Senate will reconvene Sept. 11 for pre-trial proceedings in connection with impeachment trials for three members of the state Supreme Court.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, made the announcement Tuesday one day after the Senate approved 34 rules to be used in the separate trials for suspended Justice Allen Loughry, Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justice Beth Walker. The summons, articles and rules were served on the attorneys representing the justices Tuesday.
Interim Supreme Court Justice Paul Farrell, appointed to be the chief justice of any impeachment trials by Chief Justice Workman, will preside over the pre-trial meeting and members of the Senate will be sworn-in as jurors.
“It is possible that the trial dates for respondents will be set by the Presiding Officer (Farrell) during the pre-trial conference phase. Until the trial dates are set, we won’t know more about our schedule,” a message from the Senate said Tuesday.
In a corresponding move, the Supreme Court took all of the cases from its September docket and moved them to October. The 2018 Fall Term of Court was to begin Sept. 5 with several cases on the argument docket. The fall term will now begin Oct. 2.
The House of Delegates impeached Loughry, Workman, Walker and Justice Robin Davis last week in connection with court spending, court oversight and the payment of senior status judges. Davis handed in her retirement the night of the impeachment vote. Her seat will be up for election in November.