The Court is requesting public comment on a proposed amendment to Rule 14 of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure. The proposed amendment would give the circuit court discretion to grant a motion to sever or order other relief in the instance of a joint indictment or consolidated trial.

The comment period closes on January 30, 2006. Comments are to be filed with the Clerk of Court.

Over the past two days, the Court released twenty opinions in cases argued during the September term, including ten Per Curiam opinions and ten signed opinions. The signed opinions include new syllabus points relating to: mental disability as factor in mitigation of penalties in lawyer disciplinary proceeding [LDB v. Dues]; conflict of laws in interpreting an insurance policy [Howe v. Howe]; multidisciplinary treatment planning in juvenile delinquency proceedings [State v. Brandon B.]; withdrawal of VFD certification in absence of governing rules [Weirton VFD v. State Fire Comm'n]; attorney fees in inverse condemnation [WV Dept. of Transportation, et al. v. Dodson Mobile Home Sales and Services]; privilege tax in context of behavioral health services [Helton, State Tax Comm. v. REM Community Options]; attachment of IRA funds [Burge v. Fortney]; standing of State to seek disqualification of criminal defense counsel [SER Blake v. Hatcher]; actions for tortious interference against an adverse expert witness [Wilson v. Bernet]; and offers of uninsured and underinsured motor vehicle coverage in purchase of umbrella coverage [Newark Insurance v. Brown].

The Opinion Summary E-mail Service will shortly be tranferred to a proper listserv, sometime after Thanksgiving. In the meantime, summaries will be posted to the topical pages on the Court's website.