Jan. 3—FAIRMONT — One of Marion County’s state lawmakers has a chance to possibly reshape the West Virginia Code of Judicial Conduct.
Freshman West Virginia State Senator Joey Garcia, D-13, said it is an honor to serve on the new eight-member advisory committee put together by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeal Chief Justice Tim Armstead. The panel is tasked with making recommendations in rule changes to update the state Code of Judicial Conduct.
“Anytime you’re asked to step in and serve, especially with something as important as judicial ethics, I’m more than happy to step in and serve,” Garcia said.
In issuing an administrative order to establish the advisory committee, Armstead wrote that it is essential that judicial officers in West Virginia are held to high ethical standards. He said maintaining high judicial standards reinforces to West Virginians that the state’s courts system is fair, transparent and independent and can be trusted as a public institution.
“In order to promote and maintain the public’s trust in a fair, transparent, independent and impartial judiciary, it is important that we hold judges and judicial officers to the highest ethical standards possible,” Armstead said via a press release. “It has been some time since the Court conducted a comprehensive review of the Code, and it is a good practice to proactively review it in order to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the judiciary.”
Garcia, who is a civil litigator and defense attorney, said he was asked to join the advisory committee about two weeks ago.
“I’m coming into it with an open mind and really no preconceived notions,” Garcia said. “Hopefully, everyone coming in will have some common sense and experiences that will guide them to make informed recommendations to the Supreme Court.”
Armstead said the panel will work over the next year “to identify best practices, taking into consideration national trends, and bring those recommendations to the public and the Court for consideration.”
The W.Va. Code of Judicial Conduct establishes standards for the ethical conduct of judges and judicial candidates. The Code was adopted by a Supreme Court order on Oct. 21, 1992, and became effective Jan. 1, 1993. The state’s high court revised the Code on Nov. 12, 2015, after two separate periods of public comment.
The new advisory committee will conduct fact-finding and potentially host public meetings to identify and recommend proposed changes.
The committee may also use staff from the W.Va. Supreme Court’s Administrative Office and Office of the Clerk, along with the Judicial Investigation Commission and Office of Disciplinary Counsel, to provide any input or technical support to execute its mission.
In addition to the Code of Judicial Conduct, the advisory committee may also propose changes to the Rules of Judicial Disciplinary Procedure if necessary.
The Court has asked the advisory committee to submit its proposed recommendations by Dec. 31, 2025.
The eight members of the committee are:
Professor Forrest “Jack” Bowman, who will serve as committee chairman;
Senior Status Judge Alan D. Moats;
Circuit Judge Anita Harold Ashley;
Family Court Judge Heather A. Wood;
Magistrate Judge Riley H. Barb;
Del. Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh;
State Senator-elect Joey Garcia; and
David Sachar, director for the Center for Judicial Ethics at the National Center for State Courts, who will serve as an advisory member.
Reach Eric Cravey at 304-367-2523.