By STEVEN ALLEN ADAMS
The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register
(W.Va. Legislative Services photo by Perry Bennett)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia Senate decided state Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Beth Walker should not be convicted of the lone article of impeachment for which she was charged.
Instead, senators chose to censure Walker for her actions that contributed to the 11 articles of impeachment adopted Aug. 13 by the House of Delegates. The censure resolution passed by voice vote with no discussion.
The decision came on day two of her impeachment trial. After nearly two hours of deliberation behind closed doors Tuesday, the Senate voted 32-1 in favor of not convicting Walker. She is the justice with the shortest tenure on the court. Only Sen. Stephen Baldwin, D-Greenbrier, voted to convict. Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, was absent because of a prior commitment.
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