West Virginia

The US state located in the Appalachian region is the 10th smallest US state by area, and 38th by population. Following the Wheeling Convention in 1861 West Virginia was admitted to the Union after the start of the American Civil War. West Virginia broke away from Virginia, and became the 35th state admitted on June 20, 1863. The state was the first to break away from a Confederate state and one of two states admitted during the Civil War.

The state is known for its diverse geography and topographical features. It is known for mining and logging industries, political stances and labor history. The state is also known for the many outdoor activities from whitewater rafting, to mountain biking, backpacking, rafting, rock climbing, and hunting, among others.

West Virginia’s economy is extremely diversified. The state has several coal mines, and is known for timber production. The state greatly benefits from the tourism industry. The Snowshoe Mountains, Harpers Ferry, Morgantown, Charleston, the Cass Scenic Railroad, and Seneca Caverns, are among the many visited destinations by tourists annually. Chemicals industries, biochemical development, energy, coal, aerospace, forestry, healthcare, and government-sector jobs, are also prominent contributors to the state’s economy.

The capital city of West Virginia is Charleston, and this is the seat of the state government.  The state divides political power between three branches, the executive, the legislative and the judicial branch. 

The West Virginia Legislature has two houses: The House of Delegates and the Senate.  Both houses are citizen’s legislatures, which means representatives do not work full-time, and usually have other work in their communities. 

The executive branch is led by the governor, who is elected every four years at the same time as the US President.  The Lieutenant Governor is not elected but assigned by statute to the Senate President.

The judicial branch divides the state into 31 judicial circuit, with each circuit including at least one county.  The judges are elected in partisan elections, and serve eight-year terms.  The West Virginia high court is known as the Supreme Court of Appeals.  The state’s constitution allows for the creation of an Intermediate Level court; however, the legislature has not created one, and as a result, the Supreme Court of Appeals is one of the busiest courts of its kind in the country.  Justices are elected to this court to serve 12 year terms.

West Virginia is included in the Federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The state currently contributes 5 electoral votes to elections.

 

Labor and employment law, tax, bankruptcy cases, medical marijuana legislation, and federal and state government agency news and local legislation, are among the stories covered by the National Law Review for online visitors. The free, online resource, provides visitors the latest and most significant news and stories from the state, which not only affect residents, and surrounding states, but also affect the and the country as a whole.

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Mar
22
2024
SOMEONE OR SHOULD I SAY SOME STATES HAVE BEEN BUSY: See Who is Passing New Telemarketing Bills and Who is Only at the Introduction Stage Troutman Amin, LLP
Jan
24
2024
WEST VIRGINIA MIGHT BE TOUGHENING UP ON TELEMARKETING: Two Bills Introduced into State Legislator in 2024 Troutman Amin, LLP
Dec
7
2023
Policyholders Score Win as Another State’s High Court Adopts the “Continuous-Trigger” Theory for General Liability Policies Hunton Andrews Kurth
Nov
15
2023
States Continue to Adopt the “Continuous-Trigger” Theory of “Occurrence” Under Commercial General Liability Insurance Policies Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, P.C.
Nov
10
2023
Trending in Telehealth: November 1 – 7, 2023 McDermott Will & Emery
Oct
13
2023
Trending in Telehealth: September 26, 2023 – October 10, 2023 McDermott Will & Emery
Sep
29
2023
U.S. Treasury Announces $5 Billion Allocation of New Markets Tax Credit Awards [2023] Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Sep
11
2023
WVDEP Notifies Facilities of PFAS Reporting Requirements Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, P.C.
Aug
17
2023
Trending in Telehealth: August 8 – 14, 2023 McDermott Will & Emery
Jul
27
2023
EPA Proposes to Usurp State’s Judgment and Standards for Stream Impairment Classification Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, P.C.
Jul
9
2023
FFF Sovereign Immunity Series – Part XII Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Jun
12
2023
West Virginia Supreme Court Refuses to Extend Employer’s Duty of Care in Speedway v. Jarrett Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, P.C.
Jun
4
2023
Trending in Telehealth: May 23 – 30, 2023 McDermott Will & Emery
May
1
2023
West Virginia Passes the PFAS Protection Act Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, P.C.
Apr
28
2023
EPA has issued an "order" permitting continued PFAS discharges at concentrations much higher than what it says are dangerous. Confused? Mintz
Apr
21
2023
State Solutions to a Mobile Workforce Blank Rome LLP
Mar
1
2023
Trending in Telehealth: February 20 – 26, 2023 McDermott Will & Emery
Feb
16
2023
A Dozen Federal Lawsuits Filed Against West Virginia Wind Farm Operator Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, P.C.
Nov
21
2022
Telecom Alert: WV Abandoned Pole Rules; Broadband Data Maps Released; 900 MHz Applications Granted; ECF Funding [Vol. XIX, Issue 47] Keller and Heckman LLP
Aug
2
2022
PBM Regulatory Roundup (Summer 2022): States Continue PBM Oversight Activities Mintz
Jul
29
2022
West Virginia Penalizes Major Companies for Embracing ESG Principles Mintz
Jul
28
2022
HISA’s First Stumble: District Court Halts Enforcement of HISA in Louisiana and West Virginia Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Jun
14
2022
West Virginia Threatens Boycott of Major Financial Institutions Due to Alleged Bias Against Fossil Fuel Industry Mintz
Jun
8
2022
Summer State/Local Law Round-Up, Part 2 of 2: Ohio through West Virginia (US) Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
May
19
2022
Virginia Finalizes CDPA Text With the Addition of Three Amendment Bills ArentFox Schiff LLP
May
5
2022
State Bank Regulations Become New Front in the Fossil Fuel Wars Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Mar
25
2022
Recent West Virginia Court Decision Clarifies Nonparty Fault and Nonparty Immunity Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Mar
25
2022
West Virginia Enacts Changes to Payroll Card Method of Wage Payment Jackson Lewis P.C.
Mar
15
2022
Fourth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Insurance Claim for Pandemic Related Business Losses Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Mar
15
2022
West Virginia Legislature Passes Bill Changing Oil and Gas Property Tax Valuation Methodology Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Mar
15
2022
West Virginia Legislature Passes Two Significant Bills Impacting Oil and Gas Development Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Jan
3
2022
West Virginia Governor Announces First Appointees to New Intermediate Court of Appeals Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Dec
17
2021
Update: CMS Interim Final Rule Stay Lifted Nationwide, Still in Effect in Twenty-Four Plaintiff States Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Dec
17
2021
WV Supreme Court of Appeals Decides Hospital Records Case Clarifying "Typicality" Requirement for Class Certification Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Dec
8
2021
WV Supreme Court of Appeals Holds Personal Liability for An Excess Judgment Is an Essential Element in a Shamblin Claim Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Dec
8
2021
The West Virginia Medical Professional Liability Act Applies Broadly to Services Encompassing Patient Care – Not Just the Care Itself Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Nov
12
2021
Court Rejects Challenge to West Virginia Private Employer’s Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Policies Jackson Lewis P.C.
Nov
8
2021
West Virginia Governor Approves Medical and Religious Exemptions From COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Sep
2
2021
U.S. Treasury Announces $5 Billion Allocation of New Markets Tax Credit Awards Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Sep
2
2021
Which Side Are You On? Municipal Broker/Dealer Takes Both Sides Norris McLaughlin P.A.
Jul
14
2021
PFAS Lawsuits Illustrate Impact of Plaintiffs' Legal Theories Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Jul
8
2021
Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing: Recent State and Federal Developments to Watch Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Jun
15
2021
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Modifies "Stranger to the Deed" Rule Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
May
26
2021
A Broad New Interpretation of the Scope of the West Virginia Medical Professional Liability Act Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
May
21
2021
Unemployment Insurance System Update, Part III: Additional States Opting Out of Federal Unemployment Benefits Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
May
19
2021
West Virginia Notary Law Changes in Effect June 17, 2021 Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Apr
15
2021
The Latest on NIL: Updates to State and Federal Laws Goulston & Storrs
Apr
12
2021
Long-Awaited Intermediate Court of Appeals Approved by West Virginia Governor Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Apr
2
2021
West Virginia Legislative Brief for 4/2/21 Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Mar
26
2021
New Amendment to West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act Provides More Clarity for Creditors Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
 

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