WAYNE, W.Va. — Former state Supreme Court Justice Allen Loughry and the state Judicial Disciplinary Counsel have reached an agreement in connection with nearly three dozen Code of Judicial Conduct charges filed against Loughry last year in the midst of a federal investigation.
Part of the agreement approved Wednesday is like a Kennedy Plea where a defendant doesn’t admit guilt but agrees there is sufficient evidence for a conviction. The conduct charges filed by Judicial Investigation Commission against Loughry aren’t criminal charges but in the same way, according to agreement, he hasn’t admitted to some of them but he also doesn’t disagree the Judicial Disciplinary Counsel could have produced sufficient evidence to back them up.
Loughry has agreed to give up his law license, to be publicly censured and to never seek public office again.
“I believe it is in the best interest of myself and the judicial branch at this time,” Loughry said about the agreement Wednesday to Wayne County Circuit Judge Darrell Pratt.
Loughry also agreed to pay more than $5,000 to the disciplinary counsel for the cost of the investigation along with a $3,000 fine.
The recommendations of disbarment, censure, fine and costs must be approved by the state Judicial Hearing Board and state Supreme Court before they are final.
Loughry is scheduled to self-report to federal prison in early April. The disbarment and agreement to never again seek public office was mentioned during last week’s sentencing hearing.
The JIC was the first to file anything publicly against Loughry. It began its investigation back in February 2018. It concluded that a multitude of emails showed Loughry was heavily involved with the $363,000 design and renovation of his office at the state capitol, including a $7,500 custom-made wooden medallion of the State of West Virginia built into the floor with his home county of Tucker in blue granite.
The Judicial Investigation Commission concluded Loughry “engaged in a pattern and practice of lying and using his public office for private gain.”