42 posts found, showing 20 per page

WVCCE Blog WVCCE February 24, 2019
Attacking and Packing the Courts Won’t Restore Honor and Integrity
Rather than attacking and packing the courts, the Legislature and Court should double-down on implementing reforms to promote a fair and impartial judiciary and improve confidence in both the judicial system and the electoral process. Ways they can do this include strengthening disclosure of the secret, special interest money flooding our judicial elections., funding our judicial public financing program/system so that candidates for the Supreme Court don’t have to take money from parties who might later have cases before the Court and making the current process of filing judicial vacancies more transparent. More
Issues: Disclosure, Fair Courts, Public Financing, Transparency, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog WVCCE October 23, 2018
WV Supreme Court of Appeals Election Resources
Among the many important races on the ballot this election, West Virginia voters will have the opportunity to elect two new justices to fill vacancies on the WV Supreme Court of Appeals. It's a crowed field, with 10 candidates running for each of the two seats, which will be listed on the ballot as Division 1 and Division 2. We've compiled some resources and reporting on the Supreme Court races to help voters learn more about the candidates running to complete these two unexpired terms on the Court.  More
Issues: Fair Courts, WV Supreme Court

Press Release WVCCE September 10, 2018
Petition demands fair, transparent judicial elections
With impeachment trials for current and former members of the WV Supreme Court of Appeals set begin in the State Senate tomorrow, WV Citizens for Clean Elections is worried that the legislative response to the recent spending scandal could enable a single party, through a pre-planned partisan impeachment process, to seize control of the third branch of Government for the next two years. We are urging West Virginians to sign the Our Court, Our Vote petition, which is addressed to Governor Jim Justice and members of the WV Legislature, and which demands a prompt and transparent special election for any open seats on the Supreme Court. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Disclosure, Fair Courts, Transparency, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog WVCCE August 24, 2018
Making sense of the chaotic West Virginia Supreme Court impeachment
We're continuing to follow the WV Supreme Court impeachment saga closely. Earlier this week, the State Senate approved it's procedural rules for the impeachment trials. Current and former justices are scheduled to appear before the Senate on September 11 to answer to the charges against them. Stay tuned! In the meantime, check out this piece from our friends at the Institute for Southern Studies about the impeachment, and how corporate interests have shaped the court in an effort to deny ordinary West Virginians their day in court. More
Issues: Dark Money, Fair Courts, Public Financing, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer July 13, 2018
Political spending in judicial races need transparency
West Virginians are rightly furious over Justice Loughry’s behavior, but we know they are also worried about another threat to public trust in the judiciary: the secret special-interest money in judicial elections. To rebuild trust in the West Virginia judiciary and the electoral process, we must shed light on the money that is being spent behind voters’ backs. Bringing transparency to the judicial budgeting process is clearly a part of this, but legislators should seize this opportunity to bring disclosure to the secret money being spent to influence our votes and skew justice in favor of corporate and special interests. More
Issues: Disclosure, Fair Courts, Secret Money, Transparency, WV Supreme Court

Press Release WVCCE June 13, 2018
Supreme Court scandal highlights need to improve trust in the judiciary
The recent Supreme Court spending scandal and charges against Supreme Court Justice Allen Loughry are an opportunity to implement reforms to improve confidence in both the judicial system and the electoral process. West Virginians are rightly furious over Justice Loughry’s behavior, but we know they are also worried about another threat to public trust in the judiciary — the secret special-interest money in judicial elections. In both cases, transparency has to be a part of the solution. The court must bring transparency to the judicial budgeting process and legislators must seize this opportunity to bring disclosure to the secret money being used to influence our votes. More
Issues: Disclosure, Fair Courts, Secret Money, Transparency, WV Supreme Court

Press Release WVCCE June 6, 2018
Workshop on Role of the Courts in Protecting Democracy, Fundamental Rights – June 18 in Charleston
WV Citizens for Clean Elections and the WV Association for Justice are hosting a free workshop on the role of the courts in protecting our democracy and our fundamental rights. Through a series of interactive discussions and presentations, participants will leave with knowledge about who sits on the bench in West Virginia, how judges are selected/elected, threats to judicial independence, and actions to strengthen and protect the impartiality of our courts. The free workshop will be held Monday, June 18 in Charleston at the Four Points Sheraton and includes an appetizer buffet reception. Attendees are asked to please register in advance. More
Issues: Democracy, Fair Courts, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer December 18, 2017
New Report Details Who Pays for Judicial Races
A new report from the Brennan Center for Justice and the National Institute on Money in State Politics finds that judicial integrity is increasingly under threat. A torrent of special interest money, often from secretive sources, is flooding state supreme court elections. and West Virginia is no exception. The report is the only comprehensive look at all state supreme court elections in the latest cycle, 2015-16. More
Issues: Dark Money, Fair Courts, Secret Money, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer October 11, 2017
Without disclosure, we don’t know what conflicts of interest our judges may have
Millions of dollars are being spent to elect our judges in total secrecy from the people of West Virginia. The faith of West Virginians’ in their courts is rightfully tarnished by such secrecy, but the solution is simple. As dark money tries to find new and hidden ways into influencing our elections, it is critical that our state legislators protect the fairness, impartiality, and public trust in the judiciary through strong, up-to-date disclosure laws. West Virginia voters deserve to know who is trying to influence their votes and their judges. More
Issues: Dark Money, Disclosure, Fair Courts, Secret Money, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer July 18, 2017
Attacks on Democracy Halted
During the 2017 session, legislators introduced a number of bills that would have negatively affected our electoral process. With your help we were able to halt these attacks on democracy. In a nutshell: a bill to repeal public financing for Supreme Court candidates was defeated, strict voter ID was rejected, and automatic voter registration was saved, while a bill to a that raised contribution limits and created new loopholes to allow more secret money into our elections languished in the final days. More
Issues: Dark Money, Disclosure, Public Financing, Voting Rights, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer March 7, 2017
Public Financing Repeal Defeated
Some good news: Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted down SB 463, saving public financing for West Virginia Supreme Court candidates. This is an important victory for fair courts. More
Issues: Disclosure, Public Financing, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer November 15, 2016
Outside spending in W.Va. elections nears $20 million
Outside groups reported spending $4.7 million dollars in the two weeks prior to the election, with total spending reaching $19.8 million so far this election cycle. This year’s outside spending by race breaks down as follows: Attorney General - $7,056,716, Governor - $5,534,089, Supreme Court - $3,644,315. Third party organizations also spent $3.3 million in various state Senate races. More
Issues: Dark Money, Democracy, Disclosure, Secret Money, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer September 20, 2016
Brennan Center Analysis: Secret Outside Spending, Attack Ads Dominate Judicial Elections
Thirty-nine states hold elections to choose all or some of their judges. This November, 27 states will hold elections for seats on their highest courts. Early indicators suggest that several of these races will be dominated by secret outside spending and attack ads funded by groups that do not disclose their donors, according to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice of seven supreme court elections and primaries that were completed earlier in 2016. More
Issues: Dark Money, Disclosure, Fair Courts, Secret Money, WV Supreme Court

Press Release Julie Archer May 12, 2016
Special Interests Win in Supreme Court Takeover
Wealthy special interests win in West Virginia Supreme Court race, but without full knowledge of who was behind outside efforts to elevate Beth Walker. Our judges should be selected on their merits not on attack ads or money spent by special interests. More
Issues: Citizens United, Clean Elections, Disclosure, Fair Courts, Public Financing, Secret Money, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer April 22, 2016
Judicial Public Financing: Moving Away from Corruption in the Courtroom
Our state’s judicial public financing system has given voters the ability to choose a judiciary that is truly independent because publicly financed candidates don’t have to rely on support from lawyers and special interest contributors who frequently have cases before the court. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Fair Courts, Public Financing, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer March 24, 2016
Supreme Court Hears Public Financing Appeals
A temporary panel of judges sitting in for members of the WV Supreme Court of Appeals agreed with the State Election Commission's decision to award public financing to Brent Benjamin and Bill Wooton. Their opponent, Beth Walker, had challenged the SEC's decision based on procedural technicalities. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Fair Courts, Public Financing, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer February 15, 2016
State Election Commission Certifies Candidates for Public Financing
Two candidates have qualified to receive public financing during for this year’s Supreme Court election. Beckley lawyer and former legislator Bill Wooton and Justice Brent Benjamin were both certified to receive public funds by the State Election Commission despite objections from Beth Walker, who is challenging them in the race. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Fair Courts, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer January 22, 2016
With Blankenship Conviction, We Must Remember Fuller Legacy on the State
With the unprecedented conviction of former Massey Energy CEO, Don Blankenship, the public should take comfort that Blankenship has been served a small measure of justice for his actions. But we also must remember Blankenship's fuller legacy on the state and the effects his prioritization of profit had elsewhere — namely our elections. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Dark Money, Fair Courts, Public Financing, WV Supreme Court

WVCCE Blog Julie Archer November 3, 2015
Fair Courts: Money, politics tipping scales of justice?
If you went to court tomorrow, would you ultimately get a fair and impartial decision? Or are the scales of justice tilted by special interests spending big and playing dirty in efforts to shape elected courts to their liking? A new national report underscores the troubling answer to these questions. Bankrolling the Bench: The New […] More
Issues: Citizens United, Clean Elections, Dark Money, Fair Courts, Public Financing, WV Supreme Court