West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals; constitutional authority; court created; judges; qualifications of judges; location; clerk

(a) The Legislature finds that: (1) Section one, article VIII of the Constitution of West Virginia explicitly recognizes the power of the Legislature to establish an intermediate court of appeals. (2) Section six, article VIII of the Constitution of West Virginia acknowledges that appellate jurisdiction “may be conferred by law exclusively upon an intermediate appellate court” and numerous additional references to the potential creation of an intermediate appellate court by the Legislature appear throughout the Constitution. (b) In accordance with section one, Article VIII of the West Virginia Constitution, the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals is created. The Intermediate Court shall issue, as appropriate in each appeal, written opinions, orders, and decisions. The court shall be established and operable on or before July 1, 2022. (c) The Intermediate Court of Appeals shall convene, conduct proceedings, and issue decisions, rulings, and opinions of the court. (d) The Intermediate Court of Appeals shall consist of three judges, initially appointed by the Governor in accordance with §51-11-6 of this code. (1) An Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge must be a member in good standing of the West Virginia State Bar and admitted to practice law in this state for at least 10 years prior to appointment or election to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. (2) An Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge must have been a resident of the State of West Virginia for five years prior to election or appointment to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. (3) An Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge may not engage in any other business, occupation, or employment inconsistent with the expeditious, proper and impartial performance of his or her duties as a judicial officer. An Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge is not permitted to engage in the outside practice of law and shall devote full time to his or her duties as a judicial officer. (4) A person sitting as an Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge may not retain his or her position as judge upon becoming a pre-candidate or candidate for any nonjudicial, elected public office. (e) The Intermediate Court of Appeals may be located in any seat of county government within the state, or in any other place which is convenient to litigants designated by the Intermediate Court of Appeals for the purpose of hearing oral argument, or may be located in a physical location or on a virtual platform provided by the Administrative Director pursuant to §51-11-8 of this code. (f) The Clerk of the Supreme Court shall act as Clerk of the Intermediate Court of Appeals. The Clerk shall keep a complete record of the cases and proceedings of the Intermediate Court of Appeals. The Clerk, subject to the approval of the Supreme Court, may employ additional staff for the performance of duties relating to the court of appeals and designate a deputy clerk to oversee the administration of the Intermediate Court of Appeals.