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ARCHIVED 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

The Court has entered an order requesting public comment on proposed amendments to the Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary Procedure. The amendments include a procedure regarding referrals to the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program. All comments must be filed in writing with the Clerk of Court through File & ServeXpress in Docket No. 23-29 no later than October 14, 2024.

The Court entered an order provisionally adopting and issuing for public comment proposed amendments to the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

On January 31, 2024, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia adopted amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure. These amendments will be effective on January 1, 2025. 

On November 15, 2023, the Court entered an order adopting amendments to Rule 4.2(c) of the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law. The amendments modify the requirements of an attorney licensed in another jurisdiction to demonstrate good moral character, and the amendments update a reference to the Rules of Professional Conduct. 

On October 23, 2023, the Court entered an order requesting public comment on proposed amendments to Rules 29.07, 29.08, 29.09, and 29.10 of the West Virginia Trial Court Rules (Business Court Rules). The proposed amendments would clarify that business court judges may hold hearings and trials in any county in the state if agreed to by all parties and the presiding judge. The proposed amendments would further allow for arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution in business court cases. All comments must be filed in writing with the Clerk of Court through File & ServeXpress in Docket No. 22-701 no later than December 22, 2023.

On October 23, 2023, the Court entered an order requesting public comment on a proposed amendment to Rule 2.4 of the Rules of Judicial Disciplinary Procedure. The proposed amendment would modify the confidentiality rule regarding judicial disciplinary complaints or investigations. All comments must be filed in writing with the Clerk of Court through File & ServeXpress in Docket No. 22-748 no later than November 22, 2023.

On September 28, 2023, the Court entered an order requesting public comment on proposed amendments to Rule 4.2(c) of the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law. The proposed amendments would modify the requirements of an attorney licensed in another jurisdiction to demonstrate good moral character, and the proposed amendments would update a reference to the Rules of Professional Conduct. All comments must be filed in writing with the Clerk of Court through File & ServeXpress no later than October 30, 2023.

On May 3, 2023, the Court entered an order adopting amendments to the Rules of Admission to the Practice of Law. The amendments add Rule 4.8 regarding military legal assistance admission and registration.

On May 3, 2023, the Court entered an order adopting amendments to Rule 24 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure that had been provisionally adopted by order entered on June 28, 2022. The amendments relate to filing fees charged by the Clerk.

On April 5, 2023, the Court entered an order adopting amendments to Rule 1.1 of the Rules of Judicial Disciplinary Procedure. The amendments relate to the membership of the Judicial Investigation Commission.