Recent Rules Orders

Pursuant to Article VIII Section 3 of the West Virginia Constitution, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia "shall have power to promulgate rules for all cases and proceedings, civil and criminal, for all the courts of the State relating to writs, warrants, process, practice and procedure, which shall have the force and effect of law." See also W. Va. Code 51-1-4. The Court exercises this authority by issuing rules orders at various times throughout the year. Listed below, in reverse chronological order, are links to recent rules orders issued by the Court, along with a brief explanation of each. For more information about the amendment and promulgation of court rules, please contact the Office of the Clerk.

Date	Description
09-29-2014	APPROVAL OF STATE BAR ADMINISTRATIVE RULE 10 By order of September 29, 2014, the Court approved a new State Bar Administrative Rule 10, relating to IOLTA and client trust accounts. The new rule is effective immediately.
09-12-2014	APPROVAL OF RULE 6.5 OF THE RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT By order of September 12, 2014, the Court approved a new Rule of Professional conduct titled "Nonprofit and Court Annexed Limited Legal Services Programs," based upon the American Bar Association Model Rule. The new rule is effective immediately.
06-24-2014	APPROVAL OF REVISIONS TO THE WEST VIRGINIA RULES OF EVIDENCE By order entered June 2, 2014, the Court approved revisions to the West Virginia Rules of Evidence, effective September 2, 2014. Notice of Correction to Rule 608(a) (June 24, 2014). Notice of Correction to Rule 612 (August 28, 2014). (All corrections have been incorporated.)
06-13-2014	APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO TRIAL COURT RULE 29 by order entered June 13, 2014. These amendments concern the Business Court Division, and require that all motions and responses are to be filed with the Supreme Court Clerk's Office, in addition to other procedural changes.
04-24-2014	APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS, THE GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN'S GUARDIANS AD LITEM IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS, AND THE REQUIRED FORM GUARDIAN AD LITEM REPORT By order entered April 24, 2014, relating to the Rules of Procedure for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings, the Guidelines for Guardians Ad Litem in Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings, and a required form Guardian Ad Litem Report
04-23-2014	ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIFIED ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM - ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE WEST VIRGINIA TRIAL COURT RULES, RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE AND RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE by order entered April 23, 2014, relating to the West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Criminal Procedure.
04-14-2014	REQUEST FOR COMMENT ON PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ANCILLARY MATTERS. By order entered April 14, 2014, the Court approved a 60-day period of public comment on major revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct that are intended to update the rules in conformity with West Virginia law, and are largely patterned after the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct. As a consequence of the proposed revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct, two additional subject matters are affected: admission of out-of-state lawyers pro hac vice and the administration of client trust accounts, including the Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program. These two subject matters are addressed in Rule 8 of the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law and proposed State Bar Administrative Rule 10, respectively. State Bar Administrative Rule 10 will form a part of a new set of rules that will replace the existing State Bar Rules and Regulations. The new State Bar Administrative Rules are still under development, and the remaining portions will be released for comment later this year. Because State Bar Administrative Rule 10 relates to the subject matter in the proposed amendments to Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, it is appropriate for consideration as part of this package of rule changes. All practicing lawyers are encouraged to review the revisions carefully and submit comments. The public comment period closes on Friday, June 13, 2014.
04-11-2014	REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO TRIAL COURT RULE 29, RELATING TO THE BUSINESS COURT DIVISION By order entered April 11, 2014, the Court approved a 30-day period of public comment on proposed revisions to Trial Court Rule 29, governing the Business Court Division. The public comment period closes on Monday, May 12, 2014.
11-26-2013	AMENDMENTS TO THE RULESOF LAWYER DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE TO INCREASE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LAWYER DISCIPLINARY BOARD By order entered November 26, 2013, relating to Rule 1.1. Membership and Rule 3.1.Membership.
11-20-2013	AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES FOR ADMISSION TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW By order entered November 20, 2013, relating to Rule 1.0. Board of Law Examiners.