Governor Jim Justice has declared March 19, 2018 as Indigent Defense Day in West Virginia. Noting that currently 140 public defenders and over 600 private counsel are engaged as indigent defense in the state. The governor encourages all citizens to join in the commemoration of the Gideon v. Wainwright case which was decided by the US Supreme Court 55 years ago. That decision required the states to appoint counsel to poor defendants when their liberty interests are at stake.
Criminal Justice Act Panel Applications
The United States District Court for Southern District of West Virginia is currently accepting applications for appointment to the Criminal Justice Act Panel. Members in good standing of the federal bar of the Southern District who have relevant criminal defense experience and a desire to provide quality representation to indigent defendants in a variety of criminal matters are encouraged to review the current CJA Plan and access a PDF-fillable application from the Court’s website at www.wvsd.uscourts.gov. Both documents are located under the CJA tab. The application is located under the subsection “CJA Panel” or you may click here for the application. Applications are due by April 13, 2018 and can be submitted via regular mail or emailed to Angie Volk, CJA Supervising Attorney for the Southern District, at angie_volk@wvsd.uscourts.gov Ms. Volk is also available to answer any questions regarding the application process via email or by calling 304-347-3191.
Volunteers needed for Tuesday Legal Connect
The Elkins Legal Aid of West Virginia office will be sponsoring the May 2018 sessions of Tuesday Night Legal Connect. Contact Carmen Howell if you are interested in volunteering at 304-635-7600 X2410
Seeking Nominations for Great Lawyer Mentors/Supervisors
Michael Hunter Schwartz of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, is seeking input to identify attorney mentors who transform junior lawyers’ careers and even lives, study those mentors in depth, and understand why they are so effective. The goal is to produce a work that is a manual for attorneys who aspire to be transformative mentors, a benefit to legal employers for hiring and training mentors, and a tool more junior lawyers might use to find good mentors.
Dean Greg Bowman commends this project to your attention.
NEW on Westlaw: West Virginia Pattern Jury Instructions for Civil Cases
The full text of West Virginia Pattern Jury Instructions for Civil Cases is now available on Westlaw. With Westlaw access you can conveniently integrate this valuable resource with your trial preparation and research workflows to increase ease of use and efficiency.
For more information, contact your Westlaw representative: Contact Sales
West Virginia Bar Association Executive Director Announces Retirement
It is with regret that the Exectutive Council of the West Virginia Bar Association must inform the bar that our long time Executive Director, Pryce Haynes, has announced his retirement. Pryce performed his duties as Executive Director tirelessly and always with the best interests of the West Virginia Bar Association and its members in mind.
The West Virginia Bar Association is America’s oldest voluntary bar association. Pryce strived to maintain the rich traditions of the Association in keeping with that history. We deeply appreciate Pryce’s years of faithful service and wish him the very best. To congratulate Pryce, or with questions, contact Harvey Peyton at hdpeyton@peytonlawfirm.com
Bankruptcy Judge Flatley to be Inducted into American College of Bankruptcy
On March 16, 2018, Judge Patrick Flatley of Wheeling will be inducted as a Fellow of the College of Bankruptcy. The ceremony will take place at the Smithsonian Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. For more information click here.
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT TO RULE 1B(e)(1) OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES FOR MAGISTRATE COURTS – DOCKET NO. 17-RULES-1
Click here for a copy of the order entered February 14, 2018
Bar Foundation Fellows Dinner
The WV Bar Foundation Board of Directors, consisting of two judges and thirteen lawyers from all parts of the state and all types of law practice, announces the 20th class of Bar Foundation Fellows!
These Fellows will be honored during the Bar Foundation Fellows Dinner on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at the Charleston Marriott Hotel.
The well received event (black tie optional) begins at 6:00PM and the cost is $150 per person or $1,500 for a table of ten persons. The majority of the amount is tax deductible and the net proceeds from the Dinner are used for Bar Foundation grants to improve the administration of justice in the state.
Please contact Tom Tinder to make your reservations—(304)-343-9823, tom@wvbarfoundation.org or WV Bar Foundation, P. O. Box 4845, Charleston, WV 25364
WVU College of Law Moot Court Alumni
The The WVU College of Law is seeking information on alumni who participated in moot court programs as students. Please fill out this survey. If you have any questions, you can contact Amy Cyphert, Lecturer in Law, at amy.cyphert@mail.wvu.edu.”
Request for Public Comment on Legal Ethics Opinion
The following L.E.O. was approved for publication for public comment at the January 26, 2018 meeting of the Lawyer Disciplinary Board. Please submit your comments by May 15, 2018. Please send them to: L.E.O. Public Comments, Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 1200C, Charleston, WV 25304. Click here for a copy of the opinion.
Upcoming Events
March 22, 2018
The Public Interest Advocates (PIA) at the West Virginia University College of Law are holding their annual spring auction on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at the WVU College of Law. They will serve dinner in the law school lobby at 5:30 p.m.; it is a buffet and costs $10 per person. The auction is free to attend and will follow at 6:30 p.m. in the College of Law Event Hall.
This year the PIA is celebrating their 30th year of awarding summer fellowships to WVU College of Law students. These fellows work for public interest legal organizations around the state of West Virginia. To celebrate the 30th year of fellowships the theme for the auction is “Back to the 80’s: 30 years of launching public interest careers!”
The auction will feature live auction items, a silent auction, raffles, and door prizes. Auction items include overnight stays at resorts, local dining packages, gift baskets, sports tickets and memorabilia, and more. All proceeds raised go toward funding student fellowships.
All West Virginia lawyers are invited to an April Fiesta Government Lawyers Reception to be held at the offices of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown and Poe, 901 Quarrier Street, Charleston on April 19th, beginning at 5 p.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m. All West Virginia lawyers are invited! Contact Barb Baxter at barb.l.baxter@wv.gov with any questions.
April 20, 2018 8:30-5:00
Family Law CLE
Host:
Kanawha County Family Law Bench-Bar Committee
Location: India Center in Southridge
Please email Lyne Ranson at lyne@lyneranson.com with any questions.
Click here for the schedule and registration form.
April 24, 2018 12:00-2:00
Free and Live
Government Lawyers CLE Seminar 2-Hours general credit
State Bar Center, Charleston, WV and broadcast statewide online via video conference
June 13-14, 2018
Basic Mediation Training
Host: State Bar ADR Committee
Location:
Days Inn and Suites, Flatwoods
Approved for 16.5 CLE credits including 1.0 in Ethics
A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at a discounted rate ($89.99) for the event. In order to receive the discounted rate, inform the hotel that you are attending the WV State Bar’s event when making your reservation. Contact Cathy Shuman at 866-700-7284 X101 to reserve your room
For more information and to register for the event, click
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