By Toni Milbourne, The Journal
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. —The West Virginia State Supreme Court of Appeals issued a ruling Wednesday affirming the decision of a three-judge panel who, on May 1, ordered the removal of Jefferson County Commissioners Tricia Jackson and Jennifer Krouse.
The panel, comprised of Joseph K. Reeder, judge of the 29th Judicial Circuit, Jason A. Wharton, of the Fourth Judicial Circuit and Perri Jo DeChristopher of the 17th Judicial Circuit, had issued the removal order following a petition by Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Harvey who claimed the commissioners failed or refused to perform their official elected duties after the two failed to attend several county commission meetings.
In his initial filing, Harvey had contended that Jackson and Krouse “willfully failed or refused to perform their official duties as County Commissioners” by “willfully refusing their duty to attend Commission meetings; willfully refusing to uphold their legal duty to appoint a replacement Commissioner; willfully failing and refusing their duty to attend to county business; and, continuing to accept pay, in bad faith, while willfully refusing to attend to county business.”
The three-judge panel ruled that Jackson and Krouse, buy refusing to attend county commission meetings, thereby denying a quorum of the commission, did neglect their duties as elected officials.