Judicial Reform commission meets Aug. 28 in Huntington

CHARLESTON -- The next meeting of the West Virginia Independent Commission on Judicial Reform is scheduled for Aug. 28 at Marshall University in Huntington.

Friday's meeting will focus on Campaign Finance. Matt Turner, spokesman for Gov. Joe Manchin, said the agenda for the meeting still is being finalized, but the lineup includes a "full day of speakers."

Manchin established the Independent Commission on Judicial Reform to "study the need for broad systemic judicial reforms including, but not limited to, adopting a merit-based system of judicial selection, enacting judicial campaign finance reforms or reporting requirements, creating an intermediate court of appeals, proposing constitutional amendments or establishing a court of chancery."

The commission has nine members. Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor serves as the Commission's Honorary Chair.

The Aug. 28 meeting is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Marshall University Student Union Room 2W16.

After Friday's meeting, the next scheduled meeting is Sept. 21 at the West Virginia University College of Law in Morgantown. O'Connor will speak then. The topic that day will be Judicial Selection.

During a Sept. 29 meeting at the State Capitol, the topic will be Judicial Organization. Issued to be exlored then include the creation of an intermediate court of appeals, courts of chancery, etc.

The commission will submit a detailed report of its findings and recommendations to Manchin by Nov. 15.

For more information about the commission, go to www.judicialreform.wv.gov.