West Virginia Public Defender Services
State Government: Agencies/Departments/Divisions | State Public Defender
Recent News About West Virginia Public Defender Services
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Former attorney who fled the country sentenced to home confinement
CHARLESTON — A former Charleston attorney William M. Lester Jr. was sentenced to home confinement for one to three years after he pleaded guilty to fraud charges. -
Lewisburg attorney's law license suspended after violating nearly 20 rules of conduct
CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals suspended the law license of Lewisburg attorney for violating nearly 20 different professional conduct rules. -
Charleston attorney on the run since 2016 is arrested in Nicaragua
CHARLESTON — A Charleston attorney accused of charging the state for work he had never done has been arrested in Nicaragua, according to U.S. Marshals. William M. Lester Jr., who was arrested Jan. 23, is facing several felony charges of overcharging the state thousands of dollars for work he never completed. -
State Supreme Court annuls law licenses for Ketchum, four others
CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has annulled the law licenses of five West Virginia attorneys, including former Justice Menis Ketchum. -
Supreme Court establishes task force for lawyer well-being
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has established the West Virginia Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being to make recommendations on how to address mental health and substance abuse issues in the legal profession. -
Suspended Bluefield attorney twice claimed he worked more than 24 hours in a day
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ordered the suspension of a Bluefield attorney after they claim he committed multiple violations.Among the issues cited are records that show Michael P. Cooke submitted vouchers for his work as a public defender at least twice in 2014 showing he worked more than 24 hours in a day. -
State Supreme Court annuls Welch attorney’s law license
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has issued an annulment of a Welch attorney’s law license. -
Man accuses state Public Defender Services of wrongful termination
CHARLESTON – A former employee is suing the West Virginia Public Defender Services and the West Virginia Department of Administration after he claims his employment was wrongfully terminated. -
Pineville attorney sentenced for wire fraud
BECKLEY -– Pineville attorney has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger for wire fraud. -
Attorney sentenced to 21 months for wire fraud
HUNTINGTON –- An attorney has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for wire fraud. -
Mingo lawyer sentenced to prison
CHARLESTON -– A Mingo County attorney has been sentenced for fraudulently obtaining over $119,000 from an Alabama corporation. -
Supreme Court approves first-ever Rules of Juvenile Procedure
Davis CHARLESTON -- The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia approved the state's first Rules of Juvenile Procedure after several years' work. -
High Court holds moot court contest at WVU
Maynard MORGANTOWN - West Virginia University law student David Stackpole succeeded in trimming a few years off a fictitious mobster's manslaughter sentence, earning the law school's annual Baker Cup moot court competition.
