CHARLESTON – With less than four months before it opens for business, big things are happening with the state Intermediate Court of Appeals.
On March 3, the state Supreme Court announced it has purchased an office building for the ICA and for other judicial offices.
City Center East is located in Kanawha City, and it already houses judicial system offices. The court bought the building for $7.5 million, an amount it says will allow it to break even on the purchase as early as 2030.
John A. Hutchison
| courtswv.gov
“It just makes financial sense,” Chief Justice John Hutchison said. “The court has pledged to use state tax money wisely and to be accountable and transparent. In eight years, the purchase of the building will save us more than $800,000 a year in rent.”
He said the court system has considered buying the building before because it already takes up six of the 12 stories. Currently, there are 120 judicial employees working in the building, including those in the Administrative Office Divisions of Children and Juvenile Services, Court Services, Information Technology, Grant Services, Magistrate Court Services, and Probation Services. In addition, the administrative offices for the Mass Litigation Panel, the Board of Law Examiners, the Judicial Investigation Commission and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
“The timing now is perfect,” Hutchison said. “The building will provide modern working space for the Intermediate Court of Appeals in a facility that is easily accessible and has plenty of free parking. The judicial system and state will save money in the long run.”
The ICA is expected to employ 30-40 people and will have its own courtroom.
“As we continue to find ways to use taxpayer funds responsibly, I am confident that moving forward with this new plan for City Center East will be good for the judiciary and also for litigants who appear before the ICA,” Justice Beth Walker said.
Also this week, the Supreme Court announced a meeting of the ICA Advisory Council and said it is seeking public comment on Rules of Practice and Procedure related to the new court, which formally begins July 1.
“There are many interconnected aspects of setting up a new level of courts,” Hutchison said. “We are now ready to welcome public comment and insight.”
The ICA Advisory Council is scheduled to meet March 18 at City Center East, and the public can attend in person or watch and listen virtually via WebEx.
The ICA Advisory Council consists of attorneys, judges and others. It will act as a resource to comment on details of the ICA’s procedures as they are established by the Supreme Court.
The proposed rules of procedure for the ICA – and changes to other procedural rules necessitated by the establishment of the ICA – are out for public comment until April 11. The proposal includes changes to the rules of practice and procedure for family courts, minor guardianship, administrative appeals and appellate procedure. Comments must be submitted in writing to the Clerk of Court.
In addition, the Supreme Court said it has a contract with File & ServeXpress of Irving, Texas, to develop an appellate e-filing system for the Supreme Court and the ICA.
E-filing will be mandatory for members of the West Virginia State Bar, but pro se litigants may submit paper filings to the Clerk of Court, who will serve as the clerk for both the Supreme Court and the ICA.