Bar Blast - April 8, 2025

April 8, 2025

Supreme Court Announces Launch Date for Online Circuit Court Records System

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has announced a new online system to search and access circuit court records in all 55 counties will go live and be available to the public beginning March 10.

The basics of the system include:

Will launch March 10 and be available by going to the Supreme Court’s website www.courtswv.gov.
Following the March 10 launch, on the www.courtswv.gov homepage you will see an option for “Court Records Searches,” which will take you to the link to both the circuit court and magistrate records systems. (This will replace the current “Magistrate Record Search” link.)
There will also be an option in the menu bar on the www.courtswv.gov page labeled “Court Records” that will take you to the link.
The WVPASS circuit court records search system will require users to initially register with a valid email address to begin using the service.
Searches will be free for all registered users. If you would like to download documents, there will be a 25-cent per page charge plus a small transaction fee to cover the cost of the credit/debit card processing.
The database includes public content from circuit court cases dating back to 1999.
Juvenile cases or cases/documents filed under seal will not be publicly available through the system.

Click Here for Press Release

2025 ANNUAL MEETING

2025 - AWARD WINNERS

The West Virginia State Bar congratulates the following award winners who were recognized at the State Bar's Annual Banquet on April 3, 2025.

Young Lawyer of the Year – Joseph “Jay” Ford

Kaufman Award for ProBono Services - Jeff C. Woods

Mentor of the Year – Matt Jividen

Solo/Small Firm Lawyer of the Year - Bradley Wright

Government Lawyer/Public Defender of the Year – Eleanor Hurney

NEW STATE BAR OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

The West Virginia State Bar is pleased to announce new officers and members of the West Virginia State Bar Board of Governors for 2025-2026.

New officers are David D. Amsbary - President; Robby J. Aliff - President-Elect; and Kimberley D. Crockett- Vice President.

Newly elected members of the State Bar’s Board of Governors are Morgan D. Spolarich - Beckley; David A. Pfeifer - Princeton; Sarah F. Smith - Fayetteville; Michael W. Parker - Elkins; and Nicole A. Cofer - Charleston

Newly elected officers of the West Virginia State Bar’s Young Lawyer Section Board are Nicholas E. Gordon - - Chairperson; John M. Isner - Vice-Chairperson; and R. Mitchell Moore - Secretary

Newly elected members of the State Bar’s Young Lawyer Section Board are Madison A. Birchfield - Beckley; Patrick A. Erickson, Jr. - Princeton; Mackenzie A. Holdren - Summersville; S. L. Less Mallow, Jr. – Elkins; and Isaiah C. Robinson - Charleston.

CLE

CLE Rule Spotlight

Change to Active Status

Per Administrative Rule 6.07, any attorney who wants to return to Active status who is currently on Active Not Practicing or Inactive status or who has been administratively suspended by the State Bar, or suspended or disbarred by the Supreme Court of Appeals, must complete a minimum of 12 credits of CLE, including at least 3 credits in ethics, within the 12 months immediately preceding the application and pay the applicable fees to change to Active status. Judicial status members who wish to return to Active status are exempt from this requirement.

NEWS

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

The State Bar will be mailing orange postcard reminders regarding membership reporting and fees in June for the July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 fiscal year. Please be sure to log into the membership portal and verify or update your contact information (Bylaw 2.02 (b)) by JUNE 1.

Information that you will need to verify or update include:

1. Name of Employer (If sole practitioner, enter the sole practitioner’s name)

2. Address of Principal Place of Business

3. Telephone and Fax Numbers

4. Email Address

Request for Public Comment on Amendments

to Rule 17 of the West Virginia Trial Court Rules

By Order entered on March 28, 2025, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is seeking Public comments on proposed amendments to Rule 17 of the West Virginia Trial Court Rules. All comments must be filed in writing with the Office of the Clerk on or before Monday, April 28, 2025.

CLICK HERE to review the ORDER

Amendments to Rule 26 of the West Virginia Rules of

Juvenile Procedure - Adopted

On March 20, 2025, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia adopted amendments to Rule 26 of the West Virginia Rules of Juvenile Procedure regarding juvenile competency proceedings for delinquency cases.

CLICK HERE to review the ORDER adopting the amendments

EVENTS

April 10, 2025

WV Bar Foundation 27th Annual Fellows Dinner

Reception at 6:00 p.m.

Dinner & Program at 7:00 p.m.

Host: WV Bar Foundation

Location: Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Charleston, WV

Attire: Black Tie Optional

The West Virginia Bar Foundation Board of Directors invites you to join them in recognizing the WV Bar Foundation Fellows Class of 2025! The criteria for WV Bar Foundation Fellows are those judges and lawyers whose professional, public, and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and honorable service to the legal profession.

Click Here for more Information and to REGISTER

Contact Tessa White for more information - tessa@wvbarfoundation.org

April 22, 2025

The Role of Relationships in Conflict Resolution

Host: State Bar ADR Committee

CLE: 1.2 credits including 1.2 in ethics

Location: Live Webinar Attendance

Time: 12 - 1 p.m.

CLICK HERE to REGISTER

NOTE: Attendance via webinar is limited to the first 500 registrants. There is an increased interest in attending webinars, therefore, you are encouraged to register early to secure a link to attend virtually. All attendees will receive an email confirming registration. If you do not receive a confirmation of registration, you will not be able to participate in the seminar on the day of presentation.

Taking Care of Children

Child Abuse & Neglect Attorney Training

HOST: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Court Improvement Program

TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

CLE: Pending

LOCATIONS: As stated below

COST: Free

The WV Court Improvement Program invites you to attend Taking Care of Children CAN attorney training, May 5 in Charleston, WV and May 7 in Morgantown, WV (you only need to attend one). If you are a current CAN attorney or want to become one, please attend the training. CAN attorneys are needed, there are over 6,000 children in care, and less than 200 attorneys to assist these children and their families. PLEASE consider becoming a CAN attorney.

Click Here to REGISTER for South Charleston

Click Here to REGISTER for Morgantown

Questions, contact Kandi Greter at kandi.greter@courtswv.gov or 304-340-2755.

May 16-18, 2025

WVJLAP Annual Conference & Retreat

Host: WV Judicial & Lawyer Assistance Program

CLE: 6.2 credits including 5.2 in ethics

Location: Stonewall Resort - Roanoke, WV

CLICK HERE for Agenda

CLICK HERE to REGISTER

CLICK HERE for Hotel Reservations

The last day to secure the room rate is April 16, 2025

Questions contact WVJLAP at 304-553-7232

The West Virginia State Bar

www.wvbar.org

*You are receiving this email because you have elected to receive the Bar-Blast from the WV State Bar. To change you email address or manage your email subscriptions, you must log into the Membership Portal at mywvbar.org. This mailing list is updated weekly.

**UNSUBSCRIBE WARNING**

Using the link below to unsubscribe from the bar blast will stop all important notices regarding membership payment and CLE deadlines, in addition to the weekly bar blast.