Associated Press Published

Judge Orders Gov. Justice to Respond to Discovery Request in Residency Case

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice gives a speech during a Department of Tourism conference Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, at the Morgantown Event Center.

A judge has ordered lawyers for the governor of West Virginia to respond to a request for documents in an ongoing lawsuit over his residency.

Judge Charles King rejected a dismissal motion Wednesday by Gov. Jim Justice’s attorneys. King also ordered Justice to respond to Democratic Del. Isaac Sponaugle’s discovery request within 30 days.

Sponaugle is suing to require Justice live in the state’s capital of Charleston per the state constitution that says the governor should “reside at the seat of the government.” Justice’s lawyers say the meaning of “reside” is unclear.

The requested documents include Justice’s tax returns, security detail logs and expenses and any official documents stored at or sent from Justice’s Lewisburg home.

Sponaugle has sued three times over Justice’s residency; technicalities killed the previous lawsuits.