West Virginia Case Commentaries

Judicial Discretion over Improvement Periods and Post‑Termination Contact in West Virginia Abuse and Neglect Cases: Commentary on In re N.M., B.M., C.M., P.M., A.H., and Z.H.

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Judicial Discretion over Improvement Periods and Post‑Termination Contact in West Virginia Abuse and Neglect Cases: Commentary on In re N.M., B.M., C.M., P.M., A.H., and Z.H. I. Introduction This...

Voluntary Parental Disappearance as Statutory Neglect: Commentary on In re A.A.-1 and E.A. (W. Va. 2025)

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Voluntary Parental Disappearance as Statutory Neglect: Commentary on In re A.A.-1 and E.A. (Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, 2025) I. Introduction The memorandum decision in In re A.A.-1...

In re M.V.: ADA Accommodations, Parental Rights, and the Requirement to Acknowledge Child Sexual Abuse

Date: Nov 30, 2025

In re M.V.: ADA Accommodations, Parental Rights, and the Requirement to Acknowledge Child Sexual Abuse I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia’s memorandum decision in In re...

Discretion Over Stipulated Adjudications and Mental‑Health–Based Abuse Findings Without Formal Diagnosis: Commentary on In re A.E. and L.J.

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Discretion Over Stipulated Adjudications and Mental‑Health–Based Abuse Findings Without Formal Diagnosis: Commentary on In re A.E. and L.J. I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Appeals of West...

Reaffirming Termination Standards and Mandating Explicit Sibling-Visitation Rulings: Commentary on In re K.H. and Q.H.

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Reaffirming Termination Standards and Mandating Explicit Sibling‑Visitation Rulings: Commentary on In re K.H. and Q.H. (W. Va. Nov. 25, 2025) I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Appeals of West...

Implied Coal Owner Rights to Require Plugging of Overlying Gas Wells and Preliminary Injunction Standards in West Virginia: Commentary on Wendt v. West Virginia Land Resources, Inc.

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Implied Coal Owner Rights to Require Plugging of Overlying Gas Wells and Preliminary Injunction Standards in West Virginia Commentary on L. Allen Wendt and Carolyn Wendt v. West Virginia Land...

Reaffirming Jurisdiction and the Acknowledgment Requirement in Abuse and Neglect Cases Involving Adoptive Parents: Commentary on In re T.P., S.P., M.P., E.P., and A.P.-1

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Reaffirming Jurisdiction and the Acknowledgment Requirement in Abuse and Neglect Cases Involving Adoptive Parents: Commentary on In re T.P., S.P., M.P., E.P., and A.P.-1 1. Introduction This...

Wiley v. Haynes: Ambiguous Construction Contracts, Parol Evidence, and Cost-to-Repair Damages in West Virginia

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Wiley v. Haynes: Ambiguous Construction Contracts, Parol Evidence, and Cost-to-Repair Damages in West Virginia I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia’s memorandum decision in...

Requiring a Specific Proffer of Foregone Testimony to Prove Prejudice in Ineffective Assistance Claims: Commentary on Morgan C. Vandergriff v. Searls

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Requiring a Specific Proffer of Foregone Testimony to Prove Prejudice in Ineffective Assistance Claims: Commentary on Morgan C. Vandergriff v. Shelby Searls I. Introduction This memorandum decision...

State v. Jarrell: Reaffirming West Virginia Courts’ Authority to Impose Extended Probation Terms for Misdemeanors

Date: Nov 30, 2025

State v. Jarrell: Reaffirming West Virginia Courts’ Authority to Impose Extended Probation Terms for Misdemeanors I. Introduction In State of West Virginia v. Jason Colt Jarrell, No. 23-582 (Nov. 25,...

Reaffirming the Non‑Reviewability of Statutorily Compliant Sentences and Appellate Briefing Standards: Commentary on State v. Dustin Scott Gibson

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Reaffirming the Non‑Reviewability of Statutorily Compliant Sentences and Appellate Briefing Standards: Commentary on State v. Dustin Scott Gibson I. Introduction The memorandum decision in State of...

Reaffirming the Evidentiary Burden for Defense Jury Instructions and Limited Sentencing Review in Sex Offender Registration Cases: Commentary on State v. Cook

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Reaffirming the Evidentiary Burden for Defense Jury Instructions and Limited Sentencing Review in Sex Offender Registration Cases: Commentary on State v. West Virginia v. Christopher T. Cook I....

Reaffirming Separate Sexual Assault Counts and Deference to Jury Credibility Findings: Commentary on State v. Eanes

Date: Nov 30, 2025

Reaffirming Separate Sexual Assault Counts and Deference to Jury Credibility Findings: Commentary on State v. Eanes I. Introduction In State of West Virginia v. Ronald Eanes, No. 23-512 (Nov. 25,...

State v. Wodzinski: Circumstantial Proof and Inconsistent Codefendant Verdicts in “Knowingly Allowing” Child Abuse Homicide

Date: Nov 30, 2025

State v. Wodzinski: Circumstantial Proof and Inconsistent Codefendant Verdicts in “Knowingly Allowing” Child Abuse Homicide Introduction The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia’s memorandum...

Permanent vs. Temporary Foster Placement and Appellate Review in West Virginia: Commentary on In re M.B. (Ewing, J., concurring)

Date: Nov 15, 2025

Permanent vs. Temporary Foster Placement and Appellate Review in West Virginia: Commentary on In re M.B. (Ewing, J., concurring) I. Introduction This commentary analyzes Justice Ewing’s concurring...

No Yoder for Foster Parents: The Primacy of the Child’s Best Interests in Religious Foster Placements – Commentary on Justice Trump’s Concurrence in In re M.B.

Date: Nov 14, 2025

No Yoder for Foster Parents: The Primacy of the Child’s Best Interests in Religious Foster Placements – Commentary on Justice Trump’s Concurrence in In re M.B. Introduction The concurring opinion by...

In re W.M.: Enforcing Rule 26(a)’s Two‑Part Standard for Stipulated Adjudications in West Virginia Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings

Date: Nov 14, 2025

In re W.M.: Enforcing Rule 26(a)’s Two‑Part Standard for Stipulated Adjudications in West Virginia Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia’s...

Beyond the Triggering Event: Best‑Interests‑Focused Modification of Disposition under W. Va. Code § 49‑4‑606(a) — Commentary on In re R.B. (Bunn, J., concurring)

Date: Nov 14, 2025

Beyond the Triggering Event: Best‑Interests‑Focused Modification of Disposition under W. Va. Code § 49‑4‑606(a) Commentary on In re R.B. (Bunn, J., concurring) I. Introduction The concurring opinion...

Interstate Adoptions and the UCCJEA: Jurisdictional Limits and Post‑Transfer Termination of Parental Rights in In re R.D. and S.D.

Date: Nov 14, 2025

Interstate Adoptions and the UCCJEA: Jurisdictional Limits and Post‑Transfer Termination of Parental Rights in In re R.D. and S.D. I. Introduction The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia’s...

Erecting a New Hospital as “Construction of a Health Care Facility”: A Comprehensive Commentary on St. Joseph’s Hospital of Buckhannon v. Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Co.

Date: Nov 14, 2025

Erecting a New Hospital as “Construction of a Health Care Facility” Under West Virginia’s Certificate-of-Need Law: Commentary on St. Joseph’s Hospital of Buckhannon, Inc. v. Stonewall Jackson...