By Lacie Pierson, Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia senators approved a bill to establish an intermediate court of appeals for at least the fourth time in four years Wednesday afternoon.
In a case of state history repeating itself, Senate Bill 275 even has the same number as it did in 2020, when the House of Delegates ultimately struck down the measure.
The Senate approved the bill by a margin of 19-15 in the chamber where Republicans hold a 23-11 supermajority. Republican Sens. Amy Grady, Mason; Bill Hamilton, Upshur; Patrick Martin, Lewis; and David Stover, Wyoming; broke ranks to vote against the bill.
If it becomes law, the bill will establish an intermediate court, which would be comprised of two districts with three judges each, who, starting in July 2022, would hear appeals in certain cases that now either go to the state Supreme Court, the Workers’ Compensation Review Board or the West Virginia Insurance Commission’s Office of Judges…
