Estella Mae Robinson, 47, of Bluefield, looks on as her attorney Gerald Linkous, an assistant public defender, argues that according to West Virginia State Code 19-20-20, only magistrates and circuit judges could order that an animal be put down.
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will determine the fate of a Bluefield dog slated for euthanasia.
Mercer County Public Defender Gerald Linkous will represent Estella Mae Robinson, 41, of Bluefield, at a session of the high court on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Marshal University’s John C. Edwards Performing Arts Center to celebrate the school’s Constitution Week.
The hearings are open to the public.
According to Linkous, both parties will present 20 minute oral arguments before the court.
Earlier reports stated Robinson’s pit bull, named “Major,” escaped and bit city Animal Control Officer Randall Thompson on both hands.
Thompson had been called out to respond to a dog at large. The dog was Robinson’s 1- year-old pit bull pup which had escaped. According to earlier reports, Robinson said when Major observed a trespasser in his yard, namely the animal control officer in pursuit of the pup, he slipped his chain…