summary
Introduced
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
In Committee
01/14/2026
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
The purpose of this bill is to provide a procedure in all courts of record to determine when judges may be recused in legal proceedings when party’s lawyer or the law firm of a party’s lawyer has contributed to a judge's campaign.
AI Summary
This bill mandates that beginning July 1, 2026, judges in West Virginia's circuit courts, Intermediate Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Appeals must recuse themselves from a case if a lawyer for a party, or that lawyer's law firm, has made campaign contributions exceeding $250 to the judge's campaign in the most recent election. If grounds for recusal are known, the judge can ask the parties and their lawyers to discuss outside of court whether to waive the recusal, and if they unanimously agree without judicial involvement, the judge can proceed, with their agreement becoming part of the official court record. The bill also makes minor technical changes to existing language regarding the Judicial Council's advisory role and the process for adopting court rules.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
To Judiciary (on 01/14/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=142&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill |
| BillText | http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb142%20intr.htm&yr=2026&sesstype=RS&i=142 |
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