Bill Text: WV HB2366 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: West Virginia Appellate Review Reorganization Act of 2019

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-14 - To House Judiciary [HB2366 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2019-HB2366-Introduced.html

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WEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2366

By Mr. Speaker (Mr. Hanshaw)
(By Request of the Executive)

[Introduced January 14, 2019; Referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §3-10-3a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §29A-5-4 of said code; to amend and reenact §29A-6-1 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §51-2A-24; to amend and reenact §51-9-1a of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §51-11-1, §51-11-2, §51-11-3, §51-11-4, §51-11-5, §51-11-6, §51-11-7, §51-11-8, §51-11-9, §51-11-10, §51-11-11, §51-11-12, and §51-11-13; and to amend and reenact §58-5-1 of said code, all relating generally to the West Virginia Appellate Reorganization Act of 2019; requiring board to dispose of cases by a certain date; requiring contested cases under State Administrative Procedures Act to go to the Intermediate Court of Appeals; transferring jurisdiction for review of family court final orders from circuit courts to Intermediate Court of Appeals; placing judges of Intermediate Court of Appeals under the judicial retirement system; altering the residency requirements for membership on the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission; creating the Intermediate Court of Appeals; providing a short title; providing legislative findings; defining terms; establishing and defining two geographical districts of the Intermediate Court of Appeals; requiring three-judge panels for proceedings; authorizing jurisdiction of the Intermediate Court of Appeals over certain matters; specifically excluding certain matters from jurisdiction of the Intermediate Court of Appeals; providing eligibility criteria for judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals; providing that no two judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals may be residents of the same state senatorial district or of the same county; providing a process for appointment of judges to the Intermediate Court of Appeals to staggered judicial terms; providing that the Governor’s appointments are subject to Senate confirmation; providing that judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals may not be candidates for any elected office during judicial term; providing for temporary filling of judicial vacancy occurring before the expiration of an appointed judge’s term; establishing certain requirements for the filing of appeals to the Intermediate Court of Appeals; clarifying that an appeal bond may be required before appeal to the Intermediate Court of Appeals may take effect; requiring the chief judge of each Intermediate Court of Appeals district to publish and submit certain reports to the Legislature and Supreme Court of Appeals regarding pending cases; authorizing filing fees; providing for deposit of filing fees in a special revenue account to fund the State Police Forensic Laboratory; recognizing the constitutional authority of the Supreme Court of Appeals to exercise administrative authority over the Intermediate Court of Appeals; providing that procedures and operations of the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall comply with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals; requiring that appeals to the Intermediate Court of Appeals be filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals; providing that Intermediate Court of Appeals proceedings take place in publicly available facilities across the state; granting the Intermediate Court of Appeals discretion to require oral argument; authorizing the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court of Appeals to employ staff for Intermediate Court of Appeals operations; providing that the budget for Intermediate Court of Appeals operations shall be included in the appropriation for the Supreme Court of Appeals; authorizing the Intermediate Court of Appeals to issue opinions as binding precedent for respective districts; providing for discretionary review of Intermediate Court of Appeals decisions by Supreme Court of Appeals; authorizing an annual salary, retirement benefits, and reimbursement of expenses for judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals; providing for reimbursement of expenses of Intermediate Court of Appeals staff; and providing that certain appeals are reviewed and a written decision issued by either the Intermediate Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of Appeals, as a matter of right.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

CHAPTER 3. ELECTIONS.

ARTICLE 10. FILLING VACANCIES.

§3-10-3a. Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission.

(a) The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission shall assist the Governor in filling judicial vacancies. The commission shall meet and submit a list of no more than five nor less than two best qualified persons to the Governor within 90 days of the occurrence of a vacancy, or the formal announcement of the justice or judge by letter to the Governor of an upcoming resignation or retirement that will result in the occurrence of a vacancy, in the office of justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, judge of a circuit court or judge of a family court. The Governor shall make the appointment to fill the vacancy, as required by this article, within 30 days following the receipt of the list of qualified candidates or within 30 days following the vacancy, whichever occurs later.

(b) The commission shall consist consists of eight appointed members. Four of whom are public members shall be appointed by the Governor for six-year terms, except for the initial appointments which shall be staggered in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. Four and four of whom are attorney members. The Governor shall appoint attorney members shall be appointed by the Governor for six-year terms, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section from a list of nominees provided by the Board of Governors of the West Virginia State Bar. When filling a vacancy on the commission, the Governor shall appoint a member for a six-year term. The Board of Governors of the West Virginia State Bar shall nominate no more than 20 nor less fewer than 10 best qualified attorneys for appointment to the commission whenever there is a vacancy in the membership of the commission reserved for attorney members. The commission shall choose one of its appointed members to serve as chair for a three-year term. No more than four appointed members of the commission shall belong to the same political party. No more than three appointed members of the commission shall be residents of the same congressional district All members of the commission shall be citizens of this state. Public members of the commission may not be licensed to practice law in West Virginia or any other jurisdiction.

(c) Of the initial appointments made to the commission, two public members and two attorney members shall be appointed for a term ending two years after the effective date of this section, one public member and one attorney member shall be appointed for a term ending four years after the effective date of this section, and one public member and one attorney member shall be appointed for a term ending six years after the effective date of this section

(c) No more than two appointed members of the commission may be residents of the same state senatorial district, as provided in §1-2-1 of this code at the time of appointment: Provided, That the members of the commission appointed prior to the enactment of this subsection and serving on the commission upon the effective date of this subsection are not disqualified from service for the remainder of the member’s term based on the residency requirements of this subsection.

(d) The Governor, or his or her designee, the President of the West Virginia State Bar and the Dean of the West Virginia University College of Law shall serve as ex officio members of the commission.

(e) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except that commission members are entitled to reimbursement of travel and other necessary expenses actually incurred while engaged in official commission activities in accordance with the guidelines of the Travel Management Office of the Department of Administration, or its successor entity. The Governor's Office shall cooperate with the commission to ensure that all resources necessary to carrying out the official duties of the commission are provided, including staff assistance, equipment and materials.

(f) The commission shall adopt written policies that formalize and standardize all operating procedures and ethical practices of its members including, but not limited to, procedures for training commission members, publishing notice of judicial vacancies, recruiting qualified individuals for consideration by the commission, receiving applications from qualified individuals, notifying the public of judicial vacancies, notifying state or local groups and organizations of judicial vacancies and soliciting public comment on judicial vacancies. The written policies of the commission are not subject to the provisions of chapter 29A of this code, but shall be filed with the Secretary of State.

(g) A majority of the commission plus one shall constitute constitutes a quorum to do business.

(h) All organizational meetings of the commission shall be open to the public and subject to the requirements of §6-9A-1 et seq.of this code. An “organizational meeting” means an initial meeting to discuss the commission's procedures and requirements for a judicial vacancy. The commission shall hold at least one organizational meeting upon the occurrence of a judicial vacancy. All other meetings of the commission are exempt from §6-9A-1 et seq.of this code.

(i) The commission shall make available to the public copies of any applications and any letters of recommendation written on behalf of any applicants. All other documents or materials created or received by the commission shall be are confidential and exempt from the provisions of chapter 29B of this code, except for the list of best-qualified persons or accompanying memoranda submitted to the Governor in accordance with the provisions of §3-10-3a(j) of this code, which shall be available for public inspection, and the written policies required to be filed with the Secretary of State in accordance with §3-10-3a(f) of this code.

(j) The commission shall submit its list of best-qualified persons to the Governor in alphabetical order. A memorandum may accompany the list of best-qualified persons and state facts concerning each of the persons listed. The commission shall make copies of any list of best-qualified persons and accompanying memoranda it submits to the Governor available for public inspection.

CHAPTER 29A. STATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT.

ARTICLE 5. CONTESTED CASES.

§29A-5-4. Judicial review of contested cases.

(a) Any party adversely affected by a final order or decision in a contested case is entitled to judicial review thereof under this chapter, but nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent other means of review, redress or relief provided by law.

(b) Proceedings for review of any final order or decision issued on or before June 30, 2020, shall be instituted by filing a petition, at the election of the petitioner, in either the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia or in the circuit court of the county in which the petitioner or any one of the petitioners resides or does business, or with the judge thereof in vacation, within 30 days after the date upon which such party received notice of the final order or decision of the agency. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, proceedings for judicial review of any final order or decision issued after June 30, 2020, must be instituted by filing an appeal, at the election of a party desiring appeal, to the Intermediate Court of Appeals as provided in §51-11-1 et seq. of this code. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the agency and all other parties of record by registered or certified mail. The petition shall state whether the appeal is taken on questions of law or questions of fact, or both. No appeal bond shall be required to effect any such appeal.

(c) The filing of the petition shall not stay enforcement of the agency order or decision or act as a supersedeas thereto, but the agency may stay such enforcement, and the appellant, at any time after the filing of his or her petition, may apply to such circuit court for a stay of or supersedeas to such final order or decision. Pending the appeal, the court may grant a stay or supersedeas upon such terms as it deems proper.

(d) Within 15 days after receipt of a copy of the petition by the agency, or within such further time as the court may allow, the agency shall transmit to such circuit court the original or a certified copy of the entire record of the proceeding under review, including a transcript of all testimony and all papers, motions, documents, evidence and records as were before the agency, all agency staff memoranda submitted in connection with the case, and a statement of matters officially noted; but, by stipulation of all parties to the review proceeding, the record may be shortened. The expense of preparing such record shall be taxed as a part of the costs of the appeal. The appellant shall provide security for costs satisfactory to the court. Any party unreasonably refusing to stipulate to limit the record may be taxed by the court for the additional costs involved. Upon demand by any party to the appeal, the agency shall furnish, at the cost of the party requesting same, a copy of such record. In the event the complete record is not filed with the court within the time provided for in this section, the appellant may apply to the court to have the case docketed, and the court shall order such record filed.

(e) Appeals taken on questions of law, fact or both, shall be heard upon assignments of error filed in the cause or set out in the briefs of the appellant. Errors not argued by brief may be disregarded, but the court may consider and decide errors which are not assigned or argued. The court or judge shall fix a date and time for the hearing on the petition, but such hearing, unless by agreement of the parties, shall not be held sooner than 10 days after the filing of the petition, and notice of such date and time shall be forthwith given to the agency.

(f) The review shall be conducted by the court without a jury and shall be upon the record made before the agency, except that in cases of alleged irregularities in procedure before the agency, not shown in the record, testimony thereon may be taken before the court. The court may hear oral arguments and require written briefs.

(g) The court may affirm the order or decision of the agency or remand the case for further proceedings. It shall reverse, vacate or modify the order or decision of the agency if the substantial rights of the petitioner or petitioners have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, decision or order are:

(1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions; or

(2) In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the agency; or

(3) Made upon unlawful procedures; or

(4) Affected by other error of law; or

(5) Clearly wrong in view of the reliable, probative and substantial evidence on the whole record; or

(6) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion.

(h) The judgment of the circuit court shall be final unless reversed, vacated or modified on appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals of this state in accordance with the provisions of §29A-6-1 of this code.

ARTICLE 6. APPEALS.

§29A-6-1. Supreme Court of Appeals.

Any party adversely affected by the final judgment of the circuit court under this chapter may seek review thereof by appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals of this state, and jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon such court to hear and entertain such appeals upon application made therefor in the manner and within the time provided by law for civil appeals generally: Provided, That appeal of a final order, decision, or judgment of the Intermediate Court of Appeals must comply with the requirements of §51-11-1 et seq. of this code.

CHAPTER 51. COURTS AND THEIR OFFICERS.

ARTICLE 2A. FAMILY COURTS.

§51-2A-24. Review by Intermediate Court of Appeals; transfer of jurisdiction from circuit courts.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, an appeal of a final order by a family court, entered after June 30, 2020, must be made to the Intermediate Court of Appeals pursuant to §51-11-1 et seq. of this code.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a circuit court has no jurisdiction to review a final order by a family court, entered after June 30, 2020, if review of the final order is under the jurisdiction of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, as provided in §51-11-5 of this code.

ARTICLE 9. RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR JUDGES OF COURTS OF RECORD.

 

§51-9-1a. Definitions.

(a) As used in this article, the term “judge”, “judge of any court of record” or “judge of any court of record of this state” means, refers to and includes judges of the several circuit courts, the judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, and justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals. For purposes of this article, the terms do not mean, refer to or include family court judges.

(b) “Actuarially equivalent” or “of equal actuarial value” means a benefit of equal value computed upon the basis of the mortality table and interest rates as set and adopted by the retirement board in accordance with the provisions of this article: Provided, That when used in the context of compliance with the federal maximum benefit requirements of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code, “actuarially equivalent” shall be computed using the mortality tables and interest rates required to comply with those requirements.

(c) “Beneficiary” means any person, except a member, who is entitled to an annuity or other benefit payable by the retirement system.

(d) “Board” means the Consolidated Public Retirement Board created pursuant to §5-10D-1 et seq. of this code.

(e) “Final average salary” means the average of the highest 36 consecutive months' compensation received by the member as a judge of any court of record of this state.

(f) “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it has been amended.

(g) “Member” means a judge participating in this system.

(h) “Plan year” means the 12-month period commencing on July 1 of any designated year and ending the following June 30.

(i) “Required beginning date” means April 1 of the calendar year following the later of: (i) The calendar year in which the member attains age 70 and one-half; or (ii) the calendar year in which the member retires or otherwise separates from covered employment.

(j) “Retirement system” or “system” means the Judges' Retirement System created and established by this article. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the provisions of this article are applicable only to circuit judges, judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, and justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals in the manner specified in this article. No service as a family court judge may be construed to qualify a person to participate in the Judges' Retirement System or used in any manner as credit toward eligibility for retirement benefits under the Judges' Retirement System.

ARTICLE 11. The West Virginia Appellate Review Reorganization Act of 2019.

§51-11-1. Short title.

This article is known and may be cited as the West Virginia Appellate Review Reorganization Act of 2019.

§51-11-2. Findings.

The Legislature finds that:

(1) Section one, article VIII of the Constitution of West Virginia explicitly recognizes the power of the Legislature to establish an intermediate court of appeals;

(2) Section six, article VIII of the Constitution of West Virginia acknowledges that appellate jurisdiction “may be conferred by law exclusively upon an intermediate appellate court” and numerous additional references to the potential creation of an intermediate appellate court by the Legislature appear throughout the Constitution; and

(3) Section three, article VIII of the Constitution of West Virginia grants the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals supervisory control over all intermediate appellate courts in the state, including the power to promulgate rules for the procedures of an intermediate appellate court created by statute. The same constitutional provisions name the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals the “administrative head” of such courts, empowering the chief justice to exercise supervisory control over any potential intermediate court of appeals.

§51-11-3. Definitions.

For the purpose of this article:

“Circuit court” means a circuit court of this state, as provided in §51-2-1 of this code.

“Clerk” means the Clerk of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, as provided in §51-1-11 of this code.

“Intermediate Court of Appeals” means the Intermediate Court of Appeals created by this article.

“Judge” means an individual appointed to serve as a judge for the Intermediate Court of Appeals, pursuant to this article.

“Supreme Court of Appeals” means the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

§51-11-4. Intermediate Court of Appeals created; geographical districts.

(a) In accordance with section one, article VIII of the Constitution of West Virginia, the Intermediate Court of Appeals is hereby created. The court shall be established and operable on or before July 1, 2020.

(b) The Intermediate Court of Appeals is composed of two geographical districts: The Intermediate Court of Appeals for the Northern District and the Intermediate Court of Appeals for the Southern District.  Each district has jurisdiction over appeals of final decisions, judgments, or orders entered within the district’s designated counties, as follows:

(1) The Intermediate Court of Appeals for the Northern District has jurisdiction over appeals of decisions, judgments, or orders entered within the following counties: Barbour, Berkeley, Brooke, Doddridge, Grant, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jefferson, Marion, Marshall, Mineral, Monongalia, Morgan, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Ritchie, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Wetzel, and Wood.

(2) The Intermediate Court of Appeals for the Southern District has jurisdiction over appeals of decisions, judgments, or orders entered within the following counties: Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Summers, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wirt, and Wyoming.

(c) Each district of the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall convene, conduct proceedings, and issue decisions, rulings and opinions of the court in panels comprised of three judges.

(d) The proceedings of the Intermediate Court of Appeals may take place in any location geographically located within the district the court serves that is convenient to litigants, in a facility provided by the Administrative Director of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, pursuant to §51-11-9 of this code.

§51-11-5. Jurisdiction; limitations.

(a) The Intermediate Court of Appeals has no original jurisdiction.

(b) Unless specifically provided otherwise in this article, appeals of the following matters shall be made to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, which has appellate jurisdiction over those matters:

(1) Final judgments or orders of a circuit court in a civil case, entered after June 30, 2020;

(2) Final judgments or orders of a family court, entered after June 30, 2020;

(3) Final judgments, orders, or decisions of an agency or an administrative law judge entered after June 30, 2020, heretofore appealable to the Circuit Court of Kanawha County pursuant to §29A-5-4 or any other provision of this code;

(4) Final judgments, orders, or determinations of the Office of Judges pursuant to §23-5-1 et seq. of this code, entered after June 30, 2020; and

(5) Final judgments or orders of a circuit court concerning guardianship or conservatorship matters, pursuant to §44A-1-1 et seq. of this code.

(c) The Intermediate Court of Appeals does not have appellate jurisdiction over the following matters:

(1) Judgments or final orders issued in any criminal proceeding in this state;

(2) Judgments or final orders issued in any juvenile proceeding pursuant to §49-4-701 et seq. of this code;

(3) Judgments or final orders issued in child abuse and neglect proceedings pursuant to §49-4-601 et seq. of this code;

(4) Orders of commitment, pursuant to §27-5-1 et seq. of this code;

(5) Final decisions of the Public Service Commission, pursuant to §24-5-1 of this code;

(6) Judgments or final orders issued in a civil action challenging election practices or procedures, including, but not limited to, actions challenging election results, actions challenging or asserting a candidate’s eligibility to run for office, and actions asserting an individual’s right to vote;

(7) Interlocutory appeals;

(8) Certified questions of law, as provided in §58-5-2 of this code; and

(9) Extraordinary remedies, as provided in chapter 53 of this code.

§51-11-6. Qualifications of judges.

A person must meet the following eligibility criteria to serve as a judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals:

(1) The person must be a member, in good standing, of the West Virginia State Bar;

(2) The person must be admitted to practice law in the State of West Virginia for 10 years prior to appointment to the Intermediate Court of Appeals;

(3) The person must be a resident of the State of West Virginia for five years prior to appointment to the Intermediate Court of Appeals;

(4) The person must be a resident of the district of the Intermediate Court of Appeals in which he or she serves; and

(5) The person must not be engaged in the practice of law.

§51-11-7. Appointment of judges; procedure; term of service.

(a) Each district of the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall be comprised of three judges, each appointed to serve staggered judicial terms, as provided in §51-11-7(b) of this code. No two judges may be residents of the same county or of the same state senatorial district, as those districts are provided in §1-2-1 of this code at the time of a judge’s appointment.

(b) The procedure for the appointment of a judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals is as follows:

(1) For the initial nomination of judges following the creation of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission shall compile and certify a list to the Governor of the eight most qualified persons to serve as judge for each district of the Intermediate Court of Appeals no later than January 1, 2020: Provided, That no more than three candidates on the list may reside in the same county or in the same state senatorial district as those districts are provided in §1-2-1 of this code at the time of a candidate’s inclusion on the list: Provided, however, That each person on the list must meet the requirements of §51-11-6 of this code.  After the initial appointment of judges to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission shall assist the Governor in filling any vacancy arising upon the expiration of a judge’s term, in the manner required by §3-10-3a of this code.

(2) The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the West Virginia Senate, an appropriate number of candidates to fill vacancies in the Intermediate Court of Appeals.  The Governor shall make his or her nominations without regard to political partisanship or affiliation.  No two judicial candidates may be residents of the same county or of the same state senatorial district, as those districts are provided in §1-2-1 of this code, at the time of a candidate’s nomination. The Governor shall nominate candidates for appointment to serve judicial terms within each district of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, as follows:

(A) For the initial nomination of judges following the creation of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, the Governor shall nominate three candidates for each judicial district.  Of the three candidates nominated per district, the Governor shall nominate one candidate to serve a 10-year term, one candidate to serve an eight-year term, and one candidate to serve a six-year term.  The terms of each judge initially appointed to the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall commence on July 1, 2020.

(B) After the initial appointments described in §51-11-7(b)(2)(A) of this code, judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals will be appointed to fill judicial vacancies in the Intermediate Court of Appeals as judicial vacancies arise upon the expiration of judicial terms.  After the initial appointments described in §51-11-7(b)(2)(A) of this code, judges of the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall be appointed to serve 10-year terms.

(c) Upon confirmation by the West Virginia Senate, an individual appointed to serve as a judge for the Intermediate Court of Appeals will take an oath of office, and will commence his or her duties thereafter.

(d) Upon the expiration of his or her term of office, a judge for the Intermediate Court of Appeals may be reappointed through the regular appointment process provided in this section.

(e) The three judges of each district of the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall select a member of the Intermediate Court of Appeals to serve as chief judge, pursuant to rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals.

(f) No person sitting as judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals may retain his or her position as judge upon becoming a candidate for any elected office, judicial or nonjudicial.

(g) The Legislature recognizes that the Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has authority to temporarily assign judges to the Intermediate Court of Appeals pursuant to section eight, article VIII of the Constitution of West Virginia, in the event that an appointed judge is temporarily unable to serve on the court.

§51-11-8. Rules of practice and procedure; fees; deadlines.

(a) Unless specifically provided otherwise in this article, the pleadings, practice, and procedure in all matters before the Intermediate Court of Appeals are governed by rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals.

(b) Filing; records. —

All notices of appeal, petitions, documents, and records filed in connection with an appeal to the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall be filed in accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals.

(c) Fees. —

(1) The Clerk of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals may charge a party appealing to the Intermediate Court of Appeals a filing fee in the amount of $200.

(2) All moneys collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the State Police Forensic Laboratory Fund, created by §15-2-24d of this code, and all expenditures from the fund shall comply with the requirements of that section.

(d) Appeal Bonds. —

A court may order the payment of an appeal bond before an appeal to the Intermediate Court of Appeals may take effect, in accordance with the requirements of §58-5-14 of this code and rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals.

§51-11-9.  Administration of court.

(a) In accordance with section three, article VIII of the Constitution of West Virginia, the Intermediate Court of Appeals is subject to the administrative control, supervision, and oversight of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

(b) Filing; records. — Appeals to the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall be filed with the Clerk of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.  All appeals and other related documents shall be filed by electronic means, when available.

(c) Facilities. — The Intermediate Court of Appeals shall hear arguments throughout the court’s respective districts in locations that are convenient to litigants. The Administrative Director of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals shall arrange for the availability of suitable public facilities where proceedings of the Intermediate Court of Appeals will take place.  Facilities for proceedings may include, but are not limited to, courtrooms in county courthouses, courtrooms in federal courthouses, county commission rooms in county courthouses, rooms or facilities at institutions of higher education, and other suitable spaces in federal, state, county, or municipal buildings throughout the state.

(d) Oral Argument. — The Intermediate Court of Appeals has discretion to determine whether appellate review of a case before the court requires oral argument.

(e) Staff. — The Administrative Director of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals shall provide administrative support and may employ additional staff, as necessary, for the efficient operation of the Intermediate Court of Appeals.  The budget for the payment of compensation and expenses of Intermediate Court of Appeals staff shall be included in the appropriation for the Supreme Court of Appeals.

§51-11-10. Reporting of judicial information.

(a) The chief justice of each district of the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall prepare a biannual report, available to the public, that contains the following information, as it pertains to the justice’s district:

(1) The number of motions that have been pending before the court for more than three months and the name and case number assigned to each case in which such motion has been pending; and

(2) The number of cases that have not been disposed of within six months after filing and the name and case number assigned to each case.

(b) The chief justice of each district of the Intermediate Court of Appeals shall submit and certify the report required by this section to the Supreme Court of Appeals and Joint Committee on Government and Finance on a biannual basis.

§51-11-11. Written opinions; precedential effect.

(a) The Intermediate Court of Appeals is a court of record and shall issue, as appropriate in each appeal, written opinions, orders, and decisions.

(b) The written opinion, orders, and decisions of the Intermediate Court of Appeals are binding precedent for the decisions of all circuit courts, family courts, and magistrate courts that lie within the court’s district unless such decision is overruled or modified by the Supreme Court of Appeals.

§51-11-12. Discretionary review by Supreme Court of Appeals by petition.

(a) A party in interest may petition the Supreme Court of Appeals for appeal of a final order or judgment of the Intermediate Court of Appeals in accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals.

(b) Upon the proper filing of a notice of appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeals, the order or judgment of the Intermediate Court of Appeals is stayed pending action of the Supreme Court of Appeals.

(c) The Supreme Court of Appeals has discretion to grant or deny the petition for appeal or certiorari of a decision by the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

§51-11-13. Judicial compensation and benefits; expenses.

(a) The annual salary of a judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals is $130,000.  The budget for the payment of compensation and expenses of Intermediate Court of Appeals judges shall be included in the appropriation for the Supreme Court of Appeals.

(b) Intermediate Court of Appeals judges and staff shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under such guidelines as may be prescribed by the Administrative Director of the Supreme Court of Appeals.

CHAPTER 58. APPEAL AND ERROR.

ARTICLE 5. APPELLATE RELIEF IN THE INTERMEDIATE AND SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS.

§58-5-1. When appeal lies.

(a) A party to a civil action may appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals from a final judgment of any circuit court or from an order of any circuit court constituting a final judgment as to one or more but fewer than all claims or parties upon an express determination by the circuit court that there is no just reason for delay and upon an express direction for the entry of judgment as to such claims or parties: Provided, That an appeal of a final order or judgment of a circuit court entered after June 30, 2020, shall be to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, as required by §51-11-1 et seq. of this code.

(b) As provided in §51-11-12 of this code, a party in interest may petition the Supreme Court of Appeals for appeal of a final order or judgment of the Intermediate Court of Appeals in accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals.

(c) The defendant in a criminal action may appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals from a final judgment of any circuit court in which there has been a conviction, or which affirms a conviction obtained in an inferior court.

(d) All appeals pursuant to this section shall be afforded a full and meaningful review, and an opportunity to be heard, by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals or the Intermediate Court of Appeals, and a written decision on the merits shall be issued, as a matter of right.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create an Intermediate Court of Appeals and create the West Virginia Appellate Review Reorganization Act of 2019.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.