Steve Korris News
Meth case elicits a few laughs in Supreme Court
CHARLESTON – Comic relief lightened the load of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals for a few minutes in recent oral arguments.
What is pro hac vice?
WINFIELD – Three little Latin words opened the doors of the Putnam County courthouse to Kevin Oncken of San Antonio, Texas.
Eagloski calls lawyer's conduct 'degrading, demeaning, unprofessional'
Oncken WINFIELD – Putnam Circuit Judge Ed Eagloski chased a Texas lawyer back to the Lone Star State for misbehaving in a deposition.
Suspended Braxton magistrate should be paid, lawyer argues
CHARLESTON – Braxton County Magistrate Carolyn Cruickshanks cannot adequately defend herself against a criminal charge while suspended without pay, her attorney told the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
Do you need a license to drive an ATV?
CHARLESTON – Drivers of all terrain vehicles don't need driver's licenses in West Virginia, but Roane County prosecutor Mark Sergent believes that anyone who loses a driver's license should lose the right to drive an ATV.
Justices refuse to expedite casino games hearing
CHARLESTON - With elections approaching in four counties on whether to allow casino games at race tracks, a nonprofit group wants the Supreme Court of Appeals to declare the games unconstitutional.
'Everybody is afraid of Fran,' Whanger says
Hughes CHARLESTON - Bars of black ink conceal statements that Chief Deputy Attorney General Fran Hughes made under oath in a lawsuit of a former employee who claimed she worked on Attorney General Darrell McGraw's re-election campaign on taxpayer time in 2004.
Attorney asks Supreme Court to rehear coal lease case
CHARLESTON - It takes nerve to bring up new evidence after Justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals have decided a case, and attorney Christopher Riley of Wheeling has nerve.
Maynard warns that ruling could lead to more entanglement
Maynard CHARLESTON – Justice Spike Maynard of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals warns that a recent Court decision will encourage attorneys to entangle themselves in businesses they represent.
Justices says judge overstepped bounds in DNR pay raise issue
CHARLESTON - Grant Circuit Judge Andrew Frye stepped out of bounds when he approved a pay raise for Division of Natural Resources conservation officer Stephen Rexrode, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled.
Texas attorney says sister of The Record isn't a real newspaper
Coon BEAUMONT, Texas -- Southeast Texas Record editor Marilyn Tennissen and reporter David Yates are not journalists and The Record is not a newspaper, Beaumont attorney Brent Coon said at an April 25 hearing before Jefferson County District Judge Donald Floyd.
Clay County man has contempt charges reversed by Supreme Court
CHARLESTON - Without an attorney, Thomas Auxier of Indore convinced the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals that Clay Circuit Court Judge Jack Alsop should not have held him in contempt.
Lawmakers can't overturn 'wired' informants decision, Benjamin says
Benjamin CHARLESTON – West Virginia legislators cannot overturn a Supreme Court of Appeals decision requiring search warrants before police send "wired" informants into homes, according to Justice Brent Benjamin.
Supreme Court sympathizes with woman, but affirms conviction
CHARLESTON – Valerie Whittaker failed to persuade the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals that she killed in self defense, but the Justices failed to banish shadows of doubt.
Judge or jury will decide how drowning settlement money is divided
CHARLESTON – Charleston City Council members approved a $190,000 insurance payment in a drowning case, but someone else will have to divide the money among the victim's feuding relatives.
Wal-Mart hit with time-shaving class action suit
CHARLESTON – Wal-Mart essentially steals from its employees, according to recently filed class action lawsuit.
Attorneys can get 30 percent of coal royalties, Court rules
Starcher CHARLESTON – Attorneys in Wheeling who settled a dispute over a coal lease for a 30 percent fee in 1998 can collect 30 percent of the royalties their work produced, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has decided.
Flood trial judge tells attorneys to talk to clients after threatening call
BECKLEY – After a woman vented anger at a Raleigh County courthouse secretary, Circuit Judge John Hutchison warned attorneys in four firms to tell their clients that this type of communication was inappropriate.
Citing himself, AG petitions Court to rehear 'wiring' case
Warren McGraw CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw thinks the Supreme Court of Appeals should heed advice he wrote 25 years ago when deciding a drug suspect's appeal.
Electrician wants Supreme Court to rule on theory itself
CHARLESTON – Electrician David Kyle does not know why a fireball burned his face at Dana Transport in Nitro, but he wants to proceed with a lawsuit against the company anyway.