West Virginia Lawmakers Approve Creation of Special Business Courts

Lawmakers hope a new bill will blunt business groups’ criticism of West Virginia’s court system.

The Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to allow the state Supreme Court to create special business courts in judicial circuits with more than 60,000 people.

Sen. Jeff Kessler says the court could designate circuit judges to handle business cases in the way some judges handle juvenile or criminal cases now.

Kessler says the bill could help placate critics of the state’s court system, who say businesses have a hard time getting a fair hearing for appeals.

The measure is back with the House of Delegates, which already passed it, because the Senate made a minor amendment. If the House approves, the bill will then go to Gov. Joe Manchin.