Maynard
Smith
CHARLESTON -- A Mingo County commissioner wants state Supreme Court Chief Justice Spike Maynard to step aside in an appeal.
Greg "Hootie" Smith says a 2005 transaction in which Maynard sold a $40,000 property to Mingo County Sheriff Lonnie Hannah is a conflict of interest.
Hannah and Mingo County Commissioner David Baisden have appealed a three-judge panel's decision to deny their petition to remove Smith from office based on improper conduct.
Smith also says Hannah attended a Jan. 24 fundraiser for
Maynard and contributed to his current re-election campaign.
Maynard was a Mingo circuit judge before being elected to the Supreme Court in 1996.
Hannah and fellow county commissioner David Baisden are appealing a
three-judge panel's denial of their petition to remove Smith from
office. The petition alleges improper conduct by Smith.
As of Wednesday, Maynard has not responded to Smith request, which was filed Monday. The Justices are scheduled to hear the case in May.
