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Bill would provide nonpartisan justice elections in WV

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  • Law

  • Monday, May 20 2013 8:59 AM EDT2013-05-20 12:59:03 GMT
    The state's 16th juvenile drug court is part of the Reconnecting McDowell initiative. The private-public partnership is aimed at reviving one of West Virginia's most depressed counties.
    The state's 16th juvenile drug court is part of the Reconnecting McDowell initiative. The private-public partnership is aimed at reviving one of West Virginia's most economically depressed counties.
  • Monday, May 20 2013 6:00 AM EDT2013-05-20 10:00:49 GMT
    CLARKSBURG, WV (AP) — An attorney and a private investigator face charges of conspiring to interfere with a witness in a criminal case against a former Shinnston policeman.
    CLARKSBURG, WV (AP) — An attorney and a private investigator face charges of conspiring to interfere with a witness in a criminal case against a former Shinnston policeman.
  • Saturday, May 18 2013 7:02 PM EDT2013-05-18 23:02:54 GMT
    SMITHERS, W.Va. (AP) — A grand jury in Fayette County has indicted the former chief of a volunteer fire department and his wife on felony charges related to allegedly taking department funds for personal
    A grand jury in Fayette County has indicted the former chief of a volunteer fire department and his wife on felony charges related to allegedly taking department funds for personal use.

A bill that would make the election of West Virginia Supreme Court justices nonpartisan beginning in 2014 is on its way to the House Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 3012 was introduced March 20 by Delegates Cindy Frich, R-Monongalia; Patrick Lane, R-Kanawha; John Shott, R-Mercer; Ruth Rowan, R-Hampshire; Eric Householder, R-Berkeley; Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell; John McCuskey, R-Kanawha; Woody Ireland, R-Ritchie; Anna Border, R-Wood; Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer; and Amanda Pasdon, R-Monongalia.

This bill would provide a nonpartisan judicial office on the ballot.

The way justices are elected was debated during last year's election and the issue came up again earlier this session when members of the House Judiciary Committee were discussing a bill that would make permanent the state Supreme Court's campaign finance pilot project.