CHARLESTON — Suspended and convicted state Supreme Court Justice Allen Loughry has handed in his resignation effective Monday, Gov. Jim Justice announced Saturday evening.
In a simple one-sentence letter dated Friday, Loughry said, “I hereby resign my position as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia at the close of business on Nov. 12, 2018.”
Two weeks ago, Justice said Loughry should “do the right thing” and resign following his conviction last month on 11 federal criminal counts.
The controversy concerning spending of the Court first surfaced about this time last year. Loughry blamed former Court administrator Steve Canterbury for approving millions for expensive office renovations. Loughry alerted the U.S. Attorney’s Office which began an investigation.
The probe eventually became focused on Loughry concerning the use of state property and a state-issued vehicle. He was later indicted by a federal grand jury on nearly two dozen criminal counts. He was convicted on 11 including lying to a federal agent and obstruction of justice. He has filed two motions for a new trial.
Gov. Justice issued a proclamation Friday calling state lawmakers into special session Tuesday to take up impeachment against Loughry. The governor made the move after a fill-in Supreme Court threw out previous work by the House of Delegates in which it passed articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justice Margaret Workman. The Court later said the ruling also applied to the impeachment articles naming Loughry and now retired Justice Robin Davis.
The House also impeached Justice Beth Walker whose case went before the state Senate for a trial. Senators chose not to remove Walker from office but instead opted for a public censure.
Former Justice Menis Ketchum resigned his seat on the Court just before being indicted on federal fraud charges. Ketchum ended up entering an information with prosecutors and pleaded guilty. He is awaiting sentencing.
State Senate President Mitch Carmichael released the following statement Saturday night:
“We appreciate that Justice Loughry has decided to do the right thing and step down from the Court. With his resignation and the overwhelming support of the Judicial Budget Oversight Amendment by voters, I believe we are well on our way to rebuilding the trust of our citizens in the judicial branch.”
Loughry’s resignation creates a third vacancy on the Court in recent months. Gov. Justice appointed former House Speaker Tim Armstead and Congressman Evan Jenkins to replace Ketchum and Davis. Both were elected by wide margins in Tuesday’s election. Armstead to fill a two-year term and Jenkins a six-year term.
Justice will appoint Loughry’s replacement who will serve until the May 2020 election. That vote will now have three of the five seats on the Court up for election.
