WE THE PEOPLE-
      Last month, the state finals for the We The People program were held at the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse in Charleston. Pictured above is the state champion school, Clay County High School, with U.S. District Court Judge Irene Berger, in the center, who gave remarks and made the award presentations. We The People is a nationwide competition for high school students on constitutional and legal issues. The students make presentations on specific matters and then respond to questions from three judge panels consisting of lawyers, teachers and community leaders. Clay County, lead by its outstanding teacher, Philip Dobbins, on the left, will compete in the national competition in the Washington, DC area in April. The WTP State Coordinator is Rebecca Tinder, on the right. Initial competitions were held at the Congressional District level with Tyler County High School being victorious in District One, Clay County High in District 2 and Woodrow Wilson High School (Beckley) in District 3. WVU Law School Dean Greg Bowman gave remarks in District One, with attorney, Lisa Moye, Assistant Professor at BridgeValley Community and Technical College, handling the same responsibilities in District 2. The Bar Foundation has supported the We The People program for over twenty years by providing grants, administration, supervisory assistance and, most recently, being the fiscal agent for this important constitutional education endeavor. Congratulations to Clay County High School and the very best wishes for its success at the national competition! |
BAR FOUNDATION FELLOWS-2020 CLASS-
      The WV Bar Foundation Board of Directors is very pleased to announce the outstanding members of the 2020 Class of Bar Foundation Fellows. The criteria for the Fellows is— “Those lawyers whose professional, public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and honorable service to the legal profession with the individuals selected reflecting the diverse nature of the legal profession in West Virginia.” Since 1999, the Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors has selected approximately 400 lawyers and judges to be Fellows from the more than 8,000 WV lawyers and judges. The 2020 class members are: Perri Jo DeChristopher-Morgantown Barbara Fleischauer-Morgantown Carte Goodwin-Charleston Anne Harman-Wheeling William Huffman-Princeton Karen Kahle-Wheeling Judge H. L. Kirkpatrick-Beckley Judge Thomas Kleeh-Clarksburg Charles Loeb-Charleston Melissa Luce-Charleston Christopher Luttrell-Martinsburg Sandra Murphy-Charleston Larry Rowe-Malden Gloria Stephens-Welch Teresa Tarr-Charleston Professor John Taylor-Morgantown Justice Beth Walker-Charleston Brenda Waugh-Charles Town These Fellows will be honored at the 22nd Annual Fellows Dinner which has been set for Thursday, April 23, 2020, at the Charleston Marriott Hotel, beginning at 6:00 PM. The well received event (black tie optional) begins at 6:00 PM and the cost is $2,000 for a special designated Reserved Table of ten persons with individual seats at a cost of $150. The majority of the amount is tax deductible and the net proceeds from the Dinner are used for Bar Foundation grants to improve the administration of justice in the state. Please contact Tom Tinder to make your reservations—(304)-343-9823, tom@wvbarfoundation.org or WV Bar Foundation, P. O. Box 4845, Charleston, WV 25364. Join your colleagues and friends to honor the 2020 Bar Foundation Fellows on April 23! ____________________________________________________
BOARD OF DIRECTORS-
      The Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting on Thursday, March 5, by telephone conference call. The Board, which consists of three judges and twelve lawyers from all parts of the state and all types of law practice, will review the Foundation’s financial condition; receive reports and recommendations from the Nominating, Strategic Planning and Grants committees; as well as finalize plans for its upcoming events.