Illinois State Senate
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Recent News About Illinois State Senate
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Senate vacancy now in hands of state Supreme Court
CHARLESTON – The decision of what party will fill a vacant state Senate seat now rests with the state Supreme Court. Justices heard oral arguments Jan. 19 on a writ filed by members of the local Democratic Executive Committee from the Ninth Senatorial District. Former state Sen. Daniel Hall resigned from the position earlier this month, and both parties say they have the right to fill the vacant seat. Hall was elected as a Democrat in 2012, but he switched party affiliation to Republican after -
Ketchum asks House, Senate to repeal three bills for budget reasons
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Menis Ketchum asked the House and Senate to repeal three bills during budget hearings before their finance meetings. Ketchum, along with Justice Allen Loughry, attended the Jan. 18 meetings to discuss the state Supreme Court budget. -
Court issues stay; Tomblin won't fill vacant Senate seat until after arguments
CHARLESTON – The state Supreme Court has issued a stay, allowing Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to wait to fill a vacant state Senate seat until after the court hears arguments in the matter.On Jan. 15, the Justices issued the stay after West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office had filed an emergency order earlier in the day for clarification. That followed another filing from Tomblin saying he planned to fill the state Senate seat left vacant by Daniel Hall at 4 p.m. Saturday unless the -
Kaufman starts fourth term as Kanawha's chief circuit judge
Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman took over as Chief Judge for Kanawha County Circuit Court on January first. -
Tomblin mentions legal reforms in State of the State address
CHARLESTON – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin mentioned legal reform in his final State of the State address. “We’ve reformed medical malpractice and improved our legal climate,” Tomblin, a Democrat, said as he listed some of his administration’s accomplishments. -
House passes resolution nullifying EPA 'Waters of the U.S.' rule
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives, including West Virginia’s entire congressional delegation, on Jan. 13 approved a measure that would effectively kill the Environmental Protection Agency’s new “Waters of the United States” rule. The House voted 253-166, passing a resolution of disapproval to nullify the rule, which extends the federal agency’s authority to all bodies of water, no matter the size or frequency. Only one Republican – U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey – voted against -
Humphreys' firm files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
CHARLESTON – A prominent Charleston attorney who has been sued by former clients for allegedly mishandling hundreds of asbestos and flood damages cases has filed for bankruptcy. Jim Humphreys said Jan. 13 that his law firm James F. Humphreys & Associates has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The firm is entering bankruptcy to “resolve all pending and potential claims against the firm in one forum and in a timely and equitable manner,” according to a statement from the firm. -
State Senate vacancy hearing set for Jan. 19
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed over the process of filling a vacancy in the state’s Ninth Senatorial District has been granted, and the state Supreme Court hearing is set for Jan. 19. “We filed a motion to allow the State of West Virginia to intervene in the Ninth Senatorial District ballot vacancy case so that the opinion of the Attorney General may be properly considered by the West Virginia Supreme Court,” Morrisey said i -
AG files to intervene in senate vacancy case
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed a motion Jan. 12 to intervene in a lawsuit filed over the process of filling a vacancy in the state’s Ninth Senatorial District. “Today, we filed a motion to allow the State of West Virginia to intervene in the Ninth Senatorial District ballot vacancy case so that the opinion of the Attorney General may be properly considered by the West Virginia Supreme Court,” Morrisey said in a statement. “In our formal legal opinion, we con -
Va. Supreme Court orders Justice companies to pay $1M to coal operator
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Supreme Court has ordered a company owned by West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Justice’s family to pay more than $1 million to a coal operator. On Jan. 7, the Supreme Court upheld a previous judgment by the Dickenson County Circuit Court in a case filed by Lambert Coal Company, which had sued Virginia Fuel and James C. Justice Companies Inc. for the balance owed for the acquisition of Dark Hollow Strip Mine and two additional Lambert coal leases. -
Tomblin says he would pick Democrat for vacant Senate seat
CHARLESTON — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says he would appoint a Democrat to fill the seat of a Republican state Senator who resigned, but he wants the state Supreme Court to determine which party will get the seat. Tomblin’s legal team filed a response Jan. 11 to a writ of prohibition filed Jan. 8 by the West Virginia Democratic Party. -
Democrats file writ asking Supreme Court to rule on open Senate seat
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Democratic Party filed a writ of prohibition with the state Supreme Court against Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin appointing a replacement for a recently retired state senator. Republican state Senator Daniel Hall resigned Jan. 4 to take a job as a state liaison for the National Rifle Association. -
Kaufman named chief judge for Kanawha Circuit Court
CHARLESTON – Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman is the new chief judge for Kanawha Circuit Court. Kaufman assumed the responsibilities Jan. 1, It is the fourth time he has served as chief judge. -
Hall's resignation could alter party control of state Senate
CHARLESTON – The resignation of a state senator could mean big changes in the state Legislature. Wyoming County Senator Daniel Hall submitted his letter of resignation Monday. He is taking a job as a state liaison for the National Rifle Association. Typically, such a resignation means the party's executive committee of that representative’s district selects nominees for a replacement. Those names are sent to the governor for him to pick the replacement. -
Goodwin files pre-candidacy papers to run for governor
CHARLESTON – Former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin has filed pre-candidacy papers to run for governor of West Virginia. Goodwin filed the papers Friday, less than a week after said he was stepping down as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. Goodwin, a Democrat, will be running against billionaire Jim Justice and state Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler. State Senate President Bill Cole is the lone Republican in the race right now. -
Goodwin steps down as U.S. Attorney
U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced Monday he is returning to private practice after serving as a federal prosecutor for 15 years. -
Three cheers! We're no longer a Judicial Hellhole
CHARLESTON – For more than a decade, West Virginia was labeled a “Judicial Hellhole” because of our state’s activist judges, the rampant courtroom abuses by some personal injury lawyers, and unbalanced laws that have been out-of-step with other states. -
West Virginia no longer listed as a Judicial Hellhole
WASHINGTON – West Virginia no longer is a Judicial Hellhole. The Mountain State, which perennially has been at or near the top of the American Tort Reform Association's annual list, has been moved to the "Watch List," according to the report released Thursday. In discussing West Virginia, the ATRA report commends state lawmakers for enacting reforms that it says has helped the state. "In an encouraging move that may yet stall, perennial Judicial Hellhole West Virginia has dramatically managed -
UPDATE: WV CALA calls out Wooton for lawyer campaign contributions
CHARLESTON – A legal reform group is criticizing the contributions to the latest state Supreme Court candidate’s campaign, saying he has received nearly $45,000 in election funds from personal injury attorneys. West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse called out Bill Wooton’s campaign after researching who has contributed to his previous political campaigns. “It’s important for West Virginia voters to know that personal injury attorneys have spent tens of thousands of dollars to fund Bill -
Congress reasserts its authority over the EPA
“This week we will join together with the House to send President Obama and the EPA a strong message: No more attacks on coal. No more attacks on domestic energy. No more attacks on the people who produce energy.”