BAR-BLAST 9-16-2014

The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission is currently receiving applications to fill the judicial vacancy on the 13th Judicial Circuit serving Kanawha County.    Candidates must submit their completed applications by no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 12, 2014.  The deadline for submittal of letters of recommendation or comment is  September 19, 2014.  Applications and instructions are available atwww.governor.wv.gov.  To contact the Commission regarding the application process, please call Janet Shelton at 304-558-2000.  Interviews will be held on September 26, 2014.

Judge Robert W. Trumble

The formal investiture ceremony of the Honorable Robert W. Trumble as United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia will take place on Friday, September  26,  2014,  at  1:00  p.m.  at  the  W. Craig Broadwater Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 217 W. King Street, Martinsburg, WV.

Overflow  seating  will be available in the Magistrate Judge Courtroom.  If you  plan  to attend, please RSVP by September 19, 2014, to Kim A. Criswell at (304) 234-0380 orkim_criswell@wvnd.uscourts.gov.

The WV Ethics Commission is seeking a full-time Executive Director. Applicants may send a resume, including named references and at least one recent writing sample to:  M. Ellen Briggs, WV Ethics Commission, 210 Brooks Street, Ste. 300, Charleston, WV 25301, or via email at ellen.m.briggs@wv.gov.  For more information and a complete job description, please visit the Commission’s website at www.ethics.wv.gov.  Applications must be received by the close of business onSeptember 26, 2014.

More Information

The  WV Chapter of the National Association of Administrative Law Judges will be meeting at the State Bar Conference Center on October 2 from 11:30 to 1:30.  Lunch will be provided.  Anyone who is a current or new member or those who wish to join is welcome to attend.Please send RSVP to Henry Haslebacher by September 26 at   henry.haslebacher@wvinsurance.gov

A position will be open for Judge of the West Virginia Court of Claims.  The State Bar Board of Governors will nominate three (3) lawyers (the applicant may not be affiliated with the Democratic Party – please note the error in the initial announcement that any party affiliation met the qualifications)and will submit these names to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate for appointment to the Court.  The term is for six (6) years.  A description of qualifications can be found in WV Code Section 14-2-4 and 10 and Section 14-2-8 (compensation).
If you qualify for appointment, and would like to be considered for nomination, please send your resume, with any supporting information and/or letters of reference, to Anita R. Casey, Executive Director, The West Virginia State Bar, 2000 Deitrick Blvd, Charleston, WV 25311 or caseya@wvbar.org.  Nominations must be RECEIVED by midnight,

Monday, October 27, 2014.

The State Bar’s Veterans and Military Affairs Committee is offering two hours of CLE credit on Monday, November 10, 2014 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  The two hour seminar, addressing veteran’s issues, will be held at Legal Aid of West Virginia’s Charleston office.  The interactive seminar will be broadcast to 11 other Legal Aid offices throughout the State.  Credit for a LIVE presentation will be given.  In exchange for the two hours of credit, all participating attorneys will be asked to spend one hour (from 3:00 to 4:00 on November 10) responding to phone calls from our veterans and military members.  The call in will be similar to the State Bar’s Tuesday Legal Connect.  Pre-registration for the seminar is essential to insure that the Legal Aid office where you plan to attend the seminar has sufficient seating space.  Registration information will be available soon.

for Public Comment

On August 15, 2014, the Judicial Conference Advisory Committees on Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Rules published proposed amendments to their respective rules and forms, and requested that the proposals be circulated to the bench, bar, and public for comment.  The  proposed amendments, Rules Committee reports explaining the proposed changes, and instructions on how to submit comments are posted on the federal Judiciary’s website.  The public comment period ends February 17, 2015.

The West Virginia State Bar is excited to announce a new opportunity for attorneys to provide pro bono assistance to the public anytime, from anywhere.  West Virginia Online Legal Help(www.wvonlinelegalhelp.org)is a new website where low-income West Virginians can post questions about their civil legal needs.  The questions are answered by volunteer attorneys, who provide basic information and legal advice for free.

We need West Virginia attorneys to sign up to volunteer.  The benefits of volunteering include:

• No expectation of long-term representation.
• Professional liability insurance provided.
• Attorney’s name is anonymous to user.

Please go to www.wvonlinelegalhelp.org and click on “Lawyers Sign Up” to register to volunteer.  We hope to open the website to questions from the public in September 2014.

Click here for more information.

On September 12, 2014, revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct were approved by the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Click here for a copy of the order.

Shale Gas Law 2014 

Location: WVU College of Law in Morgantown, WV

Update on the Law   

Location: WVU College of Law

57th Annual Tax Seminar

Location: Wheeling Jesuit University – Wheeling, WV

WV State Bar Regional Meetings

Below is a list of dates and locations.

To register click on the date and location.

Click here for a copy of the agenda and CVs of the presenters. 

65th Annual Meeting of the West Virginia Tax Institute   

Location: Canaan Valley Resort, Davis, West Virginia

Supreme Court GAL Training   

REGISTRATION : Pre-registration is required for the training.  Once space is full, a waiting list will be implemented, so please register as early as possible.  PLEASE REGISTER NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2014, TO ENSURE ENOUGH SEATING AND MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL ATTENDEES.