West Virginia

Supreme Court considers challenges to laws banning transgender participation in sports

Becky Pepper-Jackson was assigned male at birth but began transitioning to a female gender identity in third grade. Her West Virginia school district has been sympathetic, providing a gender support plan that among other things respects her chosen name and pronouns.

Jan 8, 2026 10:54 AM CST

Attorney and former city council member charged with witness intimidation

A Wheeling, West Virginia, attorney and a former city council member, who were involved in the Marion County, West Virginia, murder prosecution of alleged Pagan Motorcycle Club leader Ryan Lane, were arrested by the West Virginia State Police on Tuesday on new charges of improperly influencing potential witnesses.

Dec 17, 2025 11:24 AM CST

Employer health plan’s exclusion for gender-affirming care violates Title VII, 11th Circuit rules

A federal appeals court has ruled that a health insurance provider can be liable for denying gender-affirming care to transgender people under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

May 14, 2024 12:48 PM CDT

Court says state health-care plans can’t exclude gender-affirming surgery

A federal appellate court in Richmond became the first in the country to rule that state health-care plans must pay for gender-affirming surgeries, a major win for transgender rights amid a nationwide wave of anti-trans activism and legislation.

Apr 29, 2024 12:25 PM CDT

4th Circuit allows transgender girl to stay on West Virginia track team

A transgender middle-schooler in West Virginia cannot be barred from participating in cross-country running and track with other girls, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has ruled.

Apr 17, 2024 8:30 AM CDT

Face masks at trial didn’t violate confrontation right of officer accused of bathroom assault, 4th Circuit rules

The Sixth Amendment right to confrontation wasn’t violated when a judge required witnesses to wear face masks in the trial of a former Logan, West Virginia, police officer accused of violating the civil rights of a public intoxication arrestee, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Jan 16, 2024 3:40 PM CST

Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether to stay EPA’s ‘good neighbor’ rule

The U.S. Supreme Court will have oral arguments in February to consider an emergency petition to stay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “good neighbor” rule, which is intended to curb pollution that drifts to downwind states.

Dec 22, 2023 9:22 AM CST

Judges ‘do not do double duty as sheriffs,’ 4th Circuit says in denying judicial immunity for home search

A West Virginia judge who led a warrantless search of a divorce litigant’s home is not entitled to judicial immunity because she engaged in a nonjudicial act, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

Oct 31, 2023 1:29 PM CDT

25 federal district courts have always had white judges

Twenty-five out of 94 federal district courts have never had a judge of color, according to a Bloomberg Law analysis.

Sep 5, 2023 12:36 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Infowars host Alex Jones’ lawyer appeals $97K sanction; judge removed for sexual comments

Lawyer for Infowars founder Alex Jones sanctioned $97K F. Andino Reynal, the lawyer for conspiracy theorist and Infowars founder Alex Jones, told HuffPost that he is confident that he will win reversal of a $97,169 sanction imposed against him. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble of Texas sanctioned Reynal on April 24…

May 12, 2023 3:02 PM CDT

Transgender girl can stay on team, for now, after SCOTUS denial; action comes as US proposes new Title IX rule

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday refused to reinstate a West Virginia law that bans transgender athletes from playing on female sports teams.

Apr 7, 2023 9:17 AM CDT

Lawyer fatally shot by client died a hero, law firm partner says

Updated: A North Carolina personal injury lawyer who was shot and killed by a client Monday died while trying to save others, the managing partner of his law firm says.

Dec 21, 2022 8:54 AM CST

Weekly Briefs: Accused ‘my guns are bigger’ judge resigns; Texas district attorney resigns, takes the Fifth

Judge who displayed gun on bench resigns Judge David W. Hummel Jr. of West Virginia has resigned from the bench after a video confirmed that he placed a gun on the bench during a hearing. Hummel had been accused of taking out the gun after refusing to let a lawyer’s…

Dec 2, 2022 3:02 PM CST

Lawyer is disbarred and suspended after he is accused of billing over 24 hours per day

A West Virginia lawyer has been sanctioned after he was accused of billing more than 24 hours in a day, multiple times, for his representation of indigent clients.

Nov 8, 2022 3:13 PM CST

‘My guns are bigger,’ judge allegedly declared before pointing Colt .45 at lawyers in courtroom

A Houston lawyer has submitted an affidavit alleging that a West Virginia judge removed a gun from a holster under his robe and pointed it at attorneys defending an energy company.

Jul 18, 2022 11:50 AM CDT