The Right to Appeal
by admin on 15/02/10 at 1:45 pm
MetroNews
State Capitol
February 15, 2010
Despite the State Supreme Court saying an intermediate appeals court is not needed, the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee plans on introducing a bill that would establish such a court.
“There will be a bill introduced by me that does exactly that. We will give deference and review to what the Court has in mind, but I think we need to at least get the subject out there and fully considered and debated by the Legislature,” says Marshall County State Senator Jeff Kessler.
The issue of appeals became an issue after the judicial system in West Virginia was labeled as unfriendly to business by several independent studies. Justices including Chief Justice Robin Davis have already been at the Capitol for testimony on the subject.
Davis told lawmakers there was no need for the additional court because it would cost the state an extra $8 to $15 million to establish. However, Senator Kessler says that should be an issue.
“The cost doesn’t worry me. Truthfully, when it comes to the cost of the administration of justice in this state, a few million dollars is not a lot of money,” says Kessler.
