Impeachment of Entire West Virginia Supreme Court

The West Virginia House voted to impeach four West Virginia Supreme Court Justices. The only remaining justice resigned prior to the introduction of the articles of impeachment.

The articles of impeachment refer to the "waste [of] state funds with little or no concern for the costs to be borne by the tax payer for unnecessary and lavish spending in the renovation and remodeling of his personal office after questions arose about expensive, state funded office renovations."

NBC reports "Republican Gov. Jim Justice will be allowed to appoint new justices to replace any who are impeached — with no requirement that they be from the same party as the incumbent. Democrats have accused Republicans of attempting to wrest the court away from voters, who elected the current justices in nonpartisan elections."

Impeach Entire Supreme Court of West Virginia?

A West Virginia House panel moved last week to impeach the state’s entire Supreme Court. “There’s a culture of entitlement and cavalier indifference and disregard for the expenditure of taxpayer money,” said House Judiciary Chairman John Shott, R-Mercer, whose committee issued articles of impeachment after 8 days of testimony.

"Elections to the state Supreme Court became formally nonpartisan in 2015. But each justice remains tied to a given party, and the current makeup of the court is 3-2 in the Democrats’ favor" reports the Washington Post. "Democratic lawmakers said the court’s political composition and the timing of the legislative [impeachment] proceedings, which have come just before the August 14 deadline to organize a special election, call into question the intentions of Gov. Jim Justice, who switched parties and became a Republican after taking office last year. Once next week’s deadline passes, he would enjoy the power to appoint any new justices, who would serve until the next election in two years."

Change to North Carolina Judicial Selection on Ballot

North Carolina voters will at the next election vote on whether to amend their state constitution to change the way judicial vacancies are filled.

Currently, North Carolina judges are elected and mid-term vacancies are filled by the governor until the next election.

The proposal would have nominating commission pass its findings to the legislature which would pick two nominees from which the governor must choose.

Perhaps no coincidence that the governor is a Democrat but Republicans hold majorities in the legislature.

Ohio Supreme Court Appointment Makes Court All Republican

Ohio Gov. John Kasich named Judge Mary DeGenaro to complete the 11 months left in the term of  Justice William O’Neill, a Democrat, who is running for governor.

According to the Toledo Blade, this will mean each member of the Ohio Supreme Court is a Republican.

Washington Supreme Court's First Openly Gay Justice

Mary Yu is apparently also the first Asian American and first female Hispanic member of the court.

AP Reports "Yu was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee earlier this month. She replaces Justice James Johnson, who announced his retirement last month because of health issues....To keep the seat, she will have to run for election in November to serve the rest of Johnson's term, which was set to expire in January 2017."

When Is A Judgeship Vacant?

"When is a judicial office vacant for purposes of allowing a governor to fill the vacancy?" asks Gavel to Gavel's Bill Raftery, who discusses a Florida bill to answer this question.