Impeachment Proceedings Head into Third Round, Loughry Pleads Not Guilty to Obstruction Charge

For more information on the possible impeachments, see this explainer. 

A committee investigating possible impeachment of one or more justices on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will return to Charleston for a third round of hearing evidence and testimony. The proceedings come as one justice pleaded not guilty Wednesday to additional federal charges.

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to hear testimony Thursday — and possibly Friday — from former Supreme Court administrator Steve Canterbury. During testimony last week, deputy director of court security Jess Gundy detailed a strained relationship between Canterbury and suspended Justice Allen Loughry. Gundy said Canterbury threatened to go to the press when he was fired by Loughry in January 2017.

The committee has also issued a subpoena to Loughry’s wife, Kelly, to provide testimony on the moving of furniture from their family home. This includes a historic state-owned desk and a couch Loughry claims was once the property of the late Justice Joseph Albright. Mrs. Loughry has requested to delay appearing before the committee so she can retain an attorney.

Loughry cited a court policy, saying justices could maintain a home office. Other witnesses have testified no such policy exists.

On Wednesday, Loughry pleaded not guilty to a federal obstruction of justice charge. Last month, he pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of fraud, witness tampering and making false statements. These charges run separate from the ongoing proceeding on his possible impeachment.