Judicial employees granted legal holiday on Friday

CHARLESTON -- Friday, July 2, has been declared a legal holiday for all West Virginia judicial system employees, according to a memo issued Wednesday by Supreme Court Administrative Director Steve Canterbury.

Governor Joe Manchin entered Executive Order No. 5-10 declaring July 2 to be "a day of honor and mourning for United States Senator Robert C. Byrd, and that all state employees may take time off that day without charge against accrued annual leave."

West Virginia Code 2-2-1 (c) provides that "a day off designated by the Governor may, for all courts, be treated as if it were a legal holiday." Pursuant to this statute, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia entered a standing Administrative Order on May 4, 1995, which provides that "courts in the state and their personnel shall treat as if it were a legal holiday any entire or part day designated by the governor as a day off for state employees statewide."

As a result of the interaction between Executive Order No. 5-10 and the May 1995 Administrative Order, all court employees shall treat Friday, July 2 as if it were a legal holiday.

"The entire court family is deeply moved by the loss of our great Senator Robert C. Byrd. His understanding of the Constitution and justice for all were second to none," Canterbury said.