Bar Blast - March 25, 2025

March 25, 2025

Supreme Court Announces Launch Date for Online Circuit Court Records System

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has announced a new online system to search and access circuit court records in all 55 counties will go live and be available to the public beginning March 10.

The basics of the system include:

Will launch March 10 and be available by going to the Supreme Court’s website www.courtswv.gov.
Following the March 10 launch, on the www.courtswv.gov homepage you will see an option for “Court Records Searches,” which will take you to the link to both the circuit court and magistrate records systems. (This will replace the current “Magistrate Record Search” link.)
There will also be an option in the menu bar on the www.courtswv.gov page labeled “Court Records” that will take you to the link.
The WVPASS circuit court records search system will require users to initially register with a valid email address to begin using the service.
Searches will be free for all registered users. If you would like to download documents, there will be a 25-cent per page charge plus a small transaction fee to cover the cost of the credit/debit card processing.
The database includes public content from circuit court cases dating back to 1999.
Juvenile cases or cases/documents filed under seal will not be publicly available through the system.

Click Here for Press Release

2025 ANNUAL MEETING

Notice of the Annual Meeting of the WV State Bar

The Board of Governors will convene the Annual Meeting at the following date, time, and location to take action on the items set forth in the agenda for which a link is available below.

Date and Time: Friday, April 4, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.

Location: Pierce Room, The Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

Click Here for Agenda

Click Here for Proposed Bylaw Amendments

CLE

CLE Rule Spotlight

Teaching Credit

Per Rule 6.09(c), CLE credit may be earned by teaching or participating as a panelist in a panel discussion at an approved CLE course. Per Rule 6.05(d), a maximum of 6 credits may be obtained for a period of teaching that lasts for at least 50 minutes. Three credits can be earned for participation in a panel discussion or teaching for a period of less than 50 minutes. No more than half of the total required CLE for any reporting period may be satisfied by teaching credits. All teaching credit requests should be submitted using the Teaching Credit option on the online member portal.

NEWS

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

The State Bar will be mailing orange postcard reminders regarding membership reporting and fees in June for the July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 fiscal year. Please be sure to log into the membership portal and verify or update your contact information (Bylaw 2.02 (b)) by JUNE 1.

Information that you will need to verify or update include:

1. Name of Employer (If sole practitioner, enter the sole practitioner’s name)

2. Address of Principal Place of Business

3. Telephone and Fax Numbers

4. Email Address

Amendments to Rule 26 of the West Virginia Rules of

Juvenile Procedure - Adopted

On March 20, 2025, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia adopted amendments to Rule 26 of the West Virginia Rules of Juvenile Procedure regarding juvenile competency proceedings for delinquency cases.

CLICK HERE to review the ORDER adopting the amendments

Public Interest Advocates (PIA) Auction

WVU College of Law Public Interest Advocates and

West Virginia Fund for Law in the Public Interest

to Host 37th Annual Benefit Auction

The in-person auction will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. in the Fitzsimmons Event hall at the WVU College of Law in Morgantown. The theme is “Almost Heaven” where we encourage attendees to dress in their finest Blue & Gold outfits as we celebrate all things West Virginia. Food and drink will also be provided! Live and silent auction items will be available, as will as door prizes for attendees!

The online auction will be held beginning Thursday, March 27, 2025, until Wednesday, April 2, 2025, on the website: https://www.32auctions.com/pia2025auction.

For more information follow us on social media:

Facebook - WVU College of Law Public Interest Advocates
Instagram - @wvu.pia

For questions, email the PIA advisor Jennifer Powell at jennifer.powell@mail.wvu.edu or the PIA Student Board directly at wvupiaboard@gmail.com.

EVENTS

March 28, 2025

PRACTITIONERS WORKING WITH FAMILIES

EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

HOST: The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence

LOCATION: Monongalia County Judicial Center

TIME: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM

COST: Free

CLE: 4.2

Any attorney interested in learning more about working with families experiencing domestic violence is invited to attend.

Click Here to REGISTER

For more information, contact Kristen Antolini, APA at kristenantolini@gmail.com or 304-291-7250/304-288-7904.

April 10, 2025

WV Bar Foundation 27th Annual Fellows Dinner

Reception at 6:00 p.m.

Dinner & Program at 7:00 p.m.

Host: WV Bar Foundation

Location: Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Charleston, WV

Attire: Black Tie Optional

The West Virginia Bar Foundation Board of Directors invites you to join them in recognizing the WV Bar Foundation Fellows Class of 2025! The criteria for WV Bar Foundation Fellows are those judges and lawyers whose professional, public, and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and honorable service to the legal profession.

Click Here for more Information and to REGISTER

Contact Tessa White for more information - tessa@wvbarfoundation.org

April 22, 2025

The Role of Relationships in Conflict Resolution

Host: State Bar ADR Committee

CLE: Pending

Location: Live Webinar Attendance

Time: 12 - 1 p.m.

CLICK HERE to REGISTER

NOTE: Attendance via webinar is limited to the first 500 registrants. There is an increased interest in attending webinars, therefore, you are encouraged to register early to secure a link to attend virtually. All attendees will receive an email confirming registration. If you do not receive a confirmation of registration, you will not be able to participate in the seminar on the day of presentation.

Taking Care of Children

Child Abuse & Neglect Attorney Training

HOST: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Court Improvement Program

TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

CLE: Pending

LOCATIONS: As stated below

COST: Free

The WV Court Improvement Program invites you to attend Taking Care of Children CAN attorney training, May 5 in Charleston, WV and May 7 in Morgantown, WV (you only need to attend one). If you are a current CAN attorney or want to become one, please attend the training. CAN attorneys are needed, there are over 6,000 children in care, and less than 200 attorneys to assist these children and their families. PLEASE consider becoming a CAN attorney.

Click Here to REGISTER for South Charleston

Click Here to REGISTER for Morgantown

Questions, contact Kandi Greter at kandi.greter@courtswv.gov or 304-340-2755.

May 16-18, 2025

WVJLAP Annual Conference & Retreat

Host: WV Judicial & Lawyer Assistance Program

CLE: 6.2 credits including 5.2 in ethics

Location: Stonewall Resort - Roanoke, WV

CLICK HERE for Agenda

CLICK HERE to REGISTER

CLICK HERE for Hotel Reservations

The last day to secure the room rate is April 16, 2025

Questions contact WVJLAP at 304-553-7232

The West Virginia State Bar

www.wvbar.org

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