The West Virginia Judiciary Committee voted to impeach the entire West Virginia Supreme Court on charges of maladministration, corruption, incompetence, neglect of duty and certain high crimes.
According to Charleston Gazette-Mail, all four of the justices — Chief Justice Margaret Workman, Justices Robin Davis, Allen Loughry, and Beth Walker — are accused of “unnecessary and lavish” spending and failing to maintain court policies regarding the use of state funds, cars, and other resources.
Loughry is also charged with using state vehicles for personal travel, having state-owned computers and furniture in his home, and using state funding for personal expenses. Last year, WCHS-TV reported that in his chamber, he had a $32,000 couch, $1,700 throw pillows, a $2,560 coffee table, and eight office chairs costing $16,374. He is also out on bond and reportedly “the subject of a 23-count federal indictment charging him with 16 counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, three counts of making false statements to a federal agent, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of witness tampering.”
The articles for impeachment will now be up for vote in the state House and if approved, the state Senate will need a two-thirds vote to begin impeachment trials.
Last month, former Justice Menis Ketchum resigned from the court and pleaded guilty in federal court to one felony count of wire fraud improper use of a state fuel card after he used state vehicles and the gas card for personal golf outings.