James Audley McLaughlin, 85, of Morgantown, died peacefully on Jan. 27, 2023. He was born in Massillon, Ohio, on July 31, 1937, where he grew up. He got his bachelor’s and law degrees from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He was a commissioned officer in the Ohio National Guard from 1960-68. After a brief period practicing law in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, he moved in 1968 to Morgantown to become a professor at West Virginia University College of Law, launching a distinguished career that lasted nearly 50 years. He was Robert L. Shuman Professor of Law until his retirement as a professor emeritus in 2017. In addition, he was associate dean for academic affairs at the WVU College of Law from 2002-2006.
He was an active member of the West Virginia State Bar and served on the Lawyer Disciplinary Board. He was elected to the Morgantown City Council and served from 1979-85 and also served on the Morgantown Planning Commission for a number of years. He was on the Board of Directors of Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC) and retired as an emeritus member.
Professor McLaughlin really never wanted to do anything other than be a lawyer, and teaching law was his passion. He taught the vast majority of at least two generations of lawyers in the state of West Virginia, leaving a lasting influence on the practice of law.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Susan (née Kipp). He also leaves behind three children: Beth (Pablo Mitchell), of North Ridgeville, Ohio, Lisa Orr (Luke Lozier), of Pittsburgh, and Alex, of Charleston; sisters, Patricia Dressler, of Copley, Ohio, and Beth Gest, of Issaquah, Wash.; five grandchildren: Tayo, Ruby, Noah, Jackson and Charlotte; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, D. Dean and Eleanor (née Pearson) McLaughlin, and daughter, Jennifer Orr.
A memorial service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the WVU College of Law Scholarship Fund or a charity of your choice. The Fred Jenkins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of James Audley McLaughlin.
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