8chan/8kun QResearch Posts (7)
#6088877 at 2019-04-07 22:40:06 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #7787: CBP Commissioner Becomes Acting Secretary For DHS Edition
He Was Chief Justice Of A State Supreme Court. He Just Reported To Jail
Former West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Allen Loughry surrendered at a federal prison facility in South Carolina Friday, where he will serve a two-year sentence for crimes relating to a sweeping public corruption scandal. A federal judge sentenced the disgraced ex-justice in February, following his conviction for wire fraud, mail fraud and lying to federal investigators. In addition to criminal penalties, Loughry was disbarred from legal practice, agreed never to seek public office again and paid fines totaling $12,000.
Local press accounts of lavish renovations at the state Supreme Court set off an audit of the justice's spending practices. That inquiry discovered that Loughry and another justice, Menis Ketchum, used state resources for personal purposes. A federal investigation followed, leading to a battery of criminal charges against Loughry and Ketchum. Among other offenses, investigators discovered that Loughry collected compensation from a law school for travel expenses he had not incurred and removed a state-owned antique desk from a public facility to his private residence. The famed architect Cass Gilbert designed the desk, the estimated value of which is $40,000.
Loughry is the author of a lengthy history of political corruption in West Virginia called "Don't Buy Another Vote, I Won't Pay For A Landslide." The spending scandal set off a constitutional crisis in West Virginia. Loughry and Ketchum left judicial service and were convicted of financial crimes in federal court. A third justice, Robin Jean Davis, resigned to avoid a prospective impeachment. The Daily Caller News Foundation identified evidence of a possible straw donation scheme to Davis's 2012 re-election campaign, prompting an investigation from the West Virginia secretary of state. The state Legislature impeached the remaining two justices, Margaret Workman and Beth Walker.
Walker subsequently contested the impeachment before a specially composed judicial panel. That panel issued an injunction barring an impeachment trial, concluding the Legislature exceeded its authority with respect to Walker's removal. Both Walker and Workman remain in office. GOP Gov. Jim Justice appointed Justices Tim Armstead, Evan Jenkins and John Hutchison to the seats vacated by Ketchum, Davis and Loughry.
https://www.dailycaller.com/2019/04/07/allen-loughry-in-jail/
#4712946 at 2019-01-11 18:39:29 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #6014: New Wall Edition
WEST VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT IMPEACHMENT CRISIS REACHES U.S. HIGH COURT
10:39 AM 01/11/2019 | POLITICS
Kevin Daley | Supreme Court Reporter
The West Virginia state legislature is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision halting impeachment of several state Supreme Court justices.
The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals was roiled by a public corruption scandal resulting in a slew of resignations and indictments.
The justices will probably be reluctant to get involved, however.
The West Virginia state legislature has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision that halted the impeachment trials of several members of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
State lawmakers said they are not aiming to restart removal proceedings against the state Supreme Court justices. Rather, they believe the ruling at issue essentially dismantles their impeachment power.
"We have said since October that a strict reading of that opinion removes virtually all of the constitutional checks and balances we have on the judicial branch of government," House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw said in a statement. "Our action today is not an effort to resume the impeachment proceedings against any individual, but rather an effort to restore the proper legal and constitutional authority granted to the legislature with regard to impeachment proceedings."
The case arose after the legislature moved to impeach Chief Justice Margaret Workman for violations of the state judicial ethics code in connection with a spending and ethics scandal.
Workman then sued the legislature in state court, arguing it had exceeded its authority and violated her due process rights. A specially-composed panel of the West Virginia Supreme Court heard the case and ruled for Workman. The decision said the legislature violated separation of powers principles by impeaching Workman for ethics code infractions, since state law gives the judiciary exclusive power to enforce the code.
Now the legislature is asking the Supreme Court to overturn that decision, arguing it violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of a Republican form of government. The so-called "guarantee clause" provides that "the United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government." (RELATED: At Trump's Request, Supreme Court May Soon Decide On Repealing DACA)
"The subject decision of the Supreme Court of West Virginia eviscerates the state's right to a republican form of government by elevating the judicial branch to a supreme branch of government with the power to adjudicate and restrain the legislative branch in the exercise of its obligations regarding impeachment proceedings," the House of Delegates wrote in its petition to the Supreme Court.
The legislature may have a difficult time convincing the justices to take their case, however. The Supreme Court has generally held that federal courts do not have power to hear guarantee clause cases. What's more, the justices generally gives state courts the final word on matters of state law.
The West Virginia Supreme Court was beset with instability throughout 2018, after local news investigations and an attendant federal investigation revealed fraudulent activities, dereliction of official duties, and lavish spending on office renovations on the part of the justices.
Two members of the court, Justices Menis Ketchum and Allen Loughry, have since pleaded guilty to public corruption indictments in federal court. Sentencing in both cases is expected later in January. A third justice, Robin Jean Davis, resigned to avoid the prospect of impeachment.
The House of Delegates adopted articles of impeachment against all five members of the panel. Ultimately only one impeachment trial was held in the state Senate, which resulted in an acquittal. Further impeachment proceedings ended after West Virginia's high court issued its decision barring Workman's impeachment.
Workman's response to the legislature's petition is due by Feb. 11.
https://dailycaller.com/2019/01/11/west-virginia-supreme-court-impeachment/?utm_medium=push&utm_source=daily_caller&utm_campaign=push
#3872208 at 2018-11-12 21:45:11 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #4923: Common Core Ballot Tabulation Edition
Justice Allen Loughry announced the resignation of his seat on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals this weekend, after a jury found him guilty of 11 corruption counts on Oct. 12.
Loughry is the third justice to leave the high court in disgrace since July.
"I hereby resign my position as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia at the close of business on November 12, 2018," Loughry's terse letter to GOP Gov. Jim Justice reads.
The governor will appoint a new justice to Loughry's seat, who will serve until May 2020, according to Charleston Gazette-Mail.
A grand jury indicted Loughry for mail fraud, wire fraud, lying to investigators and witness tampering on June 18. According to the wide-ranging allegations, the justice used state resources for personal purposes, profiteered off the public purse, removed antique furniture from state offices to his home, lied to federal investigators, and attempted to influence the testimony of other witnesses.
He was suspended from the high court shortly thereafter, though he still officially retained his status as a state Supreme Court justice. (RELATED: West Virginia Is Facing A Full-Blown Constitutional Crisis)
After Loughry's indictment, Justice Menis Ketchum resigned on July 27. He has since pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud. Like Loughry, Ketchum was accused of using state vehicles for personal reasons, and improperly collecting state monies as reimbursement for unofficial travel.
Justice Robin Jean Davis followed suit on Aug. 11 and left the bench under threat of impeachment. Davis, Loughry and Ketchum were implicated in a spending scandal at the court, in which the justices used taxpayers dollars to finance lavish renovations to their chambers in the state capital.
The governor appointed two successors to Ketchum and Davis in August. His appointees - Evan Jenkins and Tim Armstead - both prevailed in the November elections.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announces the appointment of Evan Jenkins and Tim Armstead to the state Supreme Court (Accessed via Flickr creative commons)
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announces the appointment of Evan Jenkins and Tim Armstead to the state Supreme Court (Accessed via Flickr creative commons)
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported that Davis's 2012 reelection effort might have benefited from an illegal straw donation scheme in March 2017.
Loughry is the author of the definitive history of West Virginia's notorious political corruption. His book is called "Don't Buy Another Vote, I Won't Pay For A Landslide." The former justice is now seeking a new trial, arguing the evidence marshaled against him is insufficient for conviction.
https://dailycaller.com/2018/11/12/allen-loughry-west-virginia-resigns/?utm_medium=push&utm_source=daily_caller&utm_campaign=push
#2598358 at 2018-08-14 19:51:00 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #3279: B = Bread
>>2598313
recommend as notable
West Virginia Justice system in meltdown mode:
2 resignations
Justice Robin Jean Davis
5th member of court Menis Ketchum
3 to stand trial
Chief Justice Margaret Workman
Justice Allen Loughry
Justice Elizabeth Walker
#2598313 at 2018-08-14 19:47:23 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #3279: B = Bread
Another Justice Resigns As Lawmakers Impeach The Entire West Virginia Supreme Court
Justice Robin Jean Davis resigned in disgrace from the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals early Tuesday.
Her departure came after the state legislature impeached every member of the state's highest court.
Spending scandal is the latest in a long history of ethics questions attending Davis's judicial service.
West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Robin Jean Davis announced her resignation early Tuesday, just hours after the state House of Delegates adopted articles of impeachment against every justice serving on the court.
Her resignation marks the conclusion of two decades on the bench, sometimes marred by scandal.
"We judges weigh evidence as part of our jobs," Davis said at a Tuesday press conference in Charleston, West Virginia. "Unfortunately, the evidence clearly shows that the preconceived, result-driven mania among the majority party members in the legislature cannot result in a just and fair outcome."
Her departure from the court took effect on Monday.
Davis and three of her colleagues were impeached in the state legislature late Monday. Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justices Allen Loughry and Elizabeth Walker will now stand trial in the state senate. The fifth member of the court, Menis Ketchum, resigned on July 27. He is expected to plead guilty to two corruption charges in federal court on Aug. 29.
The impeachment articles allege the justices failed to effectively administer the state courts, approved compensation for senior judges in excess of statutory limits, and abused state resources through lavish renovations to their chambers and unauthorized use of state vehicles for personal travel. (RELATED: West Virginia's Highest Court Shattered By Corruption Indictment)
GOP Gov. Jim Justice will appoint successors to any justice removed from office following the Senate trial.
Local media and state auditors discovered the justices cumulatively spent over $1 million on furniture and aesthetic upgrades for their state offices - Davis spent some $500,000, according to the impeachment articles, including $23,000 for design services and $20,000 for a sectional carpet.
Davis's profligate spending is just the latest iteration of her long history of ethical quandaries. Beginning in 2002, The Wall Street Journal reported Davis participated in a case from which her husband, a successful plaintiffs lawyer, stood to benefit financially. A legal ethics expert who taught Davis and her husband at the West Virginia University College of Law said the justice should have recused herself from the matter.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported in August 2016 that Davis sold her family's private jet to an attorney named Michael Fuller. Two years after the sale, Fuller defended a $95-million judgment before the West Virginia Supreme Court. Despite the possible conflict, Davis wrote an opinion for the court preserving a significant portion of that award.
TheDCNF uncovered evidence in March 2017 that a Florida-based corporate entity funneled thousands of dollars to her 2012 reelection campaign through an illegal straw donation scheme at the behest of the same attorney to whom Davis sold her plane. (RELATED: New Evidence Of Illegal Donations To West Virginia Judge Emerges)
The West Virginia secretary of state opened an investigation, though charges were never brought because the statute of limitations expired.
Still, a defiant Davis cast her service as honorable Tuesday, and accused state Republicans of concocting a plot to pack the court with conservatives.
"The people of West Virginia have honored me in three separate elections by placing their confidence in me as a justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals," she said. "I have returned their faith by serving honorably for almost 22 years."
"I encourage each of you to watch this legislative process very carefully and to vote in November," she added.
https://dailycaller.com/2018/08/14/justice-Davis-resigns/
#2579007 at 2018-08-13 04:44:08 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #3254: Comfy First Bake Edition
WEST VIRGINIA'S SUPREME COURT IS SO CORRUPT, EVERY JUSTICE FACES IMPEACHMENT
Who presides over the impeachment trial of a state Supreme Court justice if the entire state Supreme Court is being impeached?
It's an absurd constitutional hypothetical West Virginians are left to grapple with, after the West Virginia House of Delegates Judiciary Committee drafted articles of impeachment against four justices on the state's highest court.
Five justices sit on the state Supreme Court in West Virginia. The state legislature has drafted articles of impeachment against Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justices Robin Jean Davis, Beth Walker, and Allen Loughry. The court's fifth justice, Menis Ketchum, retired in late July. Ketchum will plead guilty to two federal corruption charges on Aug. 29.
Loughry was placed on unpaid administrative leave in June after a state commission lodged a 32-count complaint against him, alleging pervasive violations of the state ethics code. He has since been indicted in federal court for fraud, witness tampering, and making false statements to investigators.
The remaining three justices - Workman, Davis, and Walker - face impeachment for wasting government resources and failing to effectively administer the state courts. All three spent large sums of taxpayer dollars on lavish improvements to their chambers in the state capital, which cumulatively totaled almost $750,000, and allegedly abused state travel resources. Workman and Davis also allegedly authorized compensation for other state judges in excess of the amounts allowed by West Virginia law.
"There appears to be, based on the evidence before us, an atmosphere that has engulfed the court of cavalier indifference to the expenditure of taxpayer funds, to the protection of taxpayer-paid assets, and an almost incomprehensible arrogance that for some reason they are not a coequal branch but a superior branch of government," Delegate John Shott said during a judiciary committee hearing on Aug. 7.
dailycaller.com/2018/08/12/west-virginia-impeachment-supreme-court/?utm_campaign=atdailycaller&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social
#2500056 at 2018-08-07 21:11:04 (UTC+1)
Q Research General #3153: Purple Hearts Edition
>>2499911
>>2499976
one of the largest of the controversial expenses was the renovation of Justice Robin Davis's office. That cost $500,278.23. According to Realtor.com, the median listing price for a house in Charleston is $150,000.
Davis's office work included over $23,000 for "design services" by Ed Weber Architects. The glass countertops, glass door and floor cost $90,000. Stainless steel cabinets and shelves cost $40,000. Two Edward Fields rugs priced out at over $28,000.
Davis, in an interview with WCHS TV's Kennie Bass, who broke the original story, owned up to the expenses. "I wanted the people of West Virginia to hear about my office from me," she told Bass. "Anything that is done in this office is on me."
Lawmakers may well take that to heart. "No one can justify spending that kind of money... it's incredibly excessive spending," Armstead said.
Robin Davis
American jurist
Image result for justice robin Davis
Robin Jean Davis is an American jurist serving as the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Wikipedia
Born: April 6, 1956 (age 62 years), Boone County, West Virginia, WV
Education: West Virginia University, West Virginia Wesleyan College