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Live video: Governor expected to reveal Supreme Court fill-ins

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice plans to discuss the state Supreme Court vacancies during a Saturday news conference at the capitol. And he’ll have a short-list of fill-in candidates recommended by a judicial advocacy panel.

Gov. Jim Justice

The governor’s office announced an 11 a.m. Saturday news conference “to discuss issues pertaining to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.” It’s possible Justice will take the opportunity to announce his two appointments to the High Court. Two positions are open following the resignations/retirements of former justices Menis Ketchum and Robin Davis.

Ketchum left the bench in July days before he was charged with wire fraud. He pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday. Davis handed in her retirement this month on the same night as the House of Delegates voted to impeach her.

Justice’s “fill-in” appointments will serve on the Supreme Court for its fall term that begins next month and ends in December. A full docket of cases isn’t scheduled until Oct. 5. Impeachment trials for suspended Justice Allen Loughry, Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justice Beth Walker could be held in September before the state Senate.

The Judicial Vacancy Commission interviewed more than a dozen applicants for the fill-in positions Thursday and Friday and submitted shortened lists to the governor late Friday. Former House of Delegates Speaker Tim Armstead and 3rd District U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins are most recognizable on the list. They are among the 20 candidates on the November ballot to permanently fill the two open seats.

MORE: Read letter from vacancy panel here 

Other recommended finalists from the judicial vacancy panel were Stephen R. Crislip, Robert J. Frank, D.C. Offutt Jr., Gregory B. Chiartas, James Victor Flanagan, William Schwartz and Martin P. Sheehan.

The Supreme Court has scheduled an oral argument for next Wednesday in the Don Blankenship case. The former Massey Energy president and CEO is trying to get on the fall election ballot in the U.S. Senate race. He lost in the May GOP primary and has filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Mac Warner for denying him access to the ballot as the nominee of the Constitution Party.

Workman has already appointed two circuit judges, Darrell Pratt of Wayne County and Alan Moats of Taylor/Barbour counties, to be on the Supreme Court when the Blankenship case is argued.

Justice’s new appointees couldn’t hear the Blankenship case because state law requires any judicial appointee to wait 20 days to be sworn-in. The time allows for any challenges to the appointees qualifications.

While Justice hasn’t said much about the Supreme Court controversy in recent public appearances, he has called it an embarrassment for the state.





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