JUDGE MAXWELL MEMORIAL SERVICE-
On December 17, the Memorial Service in Remembrance of  U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Maxwell was held at David and Elkins College in Elkins. Even with wintry conditions, the auditorium was packed with members of the judiciary, lawyers and citizens from all parts of the state to honor Judge Maxwell, who served more than 45 years as a Federal Court Judge from August 11, 1965 till his death on November 20, 2010. Memorable personal presentations were made by members of the federal judiciary– Judge Robert B. King, Chief Judge John P. Bailey, Chief Judge Joseph R. Goodwin and Judge Irene M. Keeley–as well as by WVU College of Law Dean Emeritus John W. Fisher, II. Judge Maxwell is survived by his wife of more than 63 years, Ann, and four children, Maryann Durland and Carollynn Maxwell-Thompson, as well as two practicing lawyers in West Virginia-Ellen Maxwell-Hoffman (Charleston) and Earl W. Maxwell (Elkins).

BUILDINGS OPTION AGREEMENT-
The WV Bar Foundation and the WV State Bar have entered into a formal real estate option agreement for the State Bar to purchase the buildings and property at 2006 and 2008 Kanawha Blvd., East in Charleston with the State Bar intending “to utilize  the property for the construction of a new Bar Center.” The option became effective on January 1, 2011 for a six month period at a minimum price of $431,313. The Bar Foundation’s 15 member Board of Directors unanimously approved the agreement and it was signed by Bar Foundation President Tracey Rohrbaugh (Martinsburg) and by State Bar President Letitia Chafin (Williamson). The 2006 building continues to be occupied by the State Bar, while the Lawyer Disciplinary Board/Office of Lawyer Disciplinary Counsel vacated the 2008 building in November, 2010, in order to share different office space with the Judicial Investigation Commission and the WV Board of Law Examiners.

CONTRIBUTIONS-
The WV Bar Foundation was extremely pleased to receive end of year memberships and contributions from numerous lawyers and legal entities, including:
Allen, Guthrie and Thomas (Charleston)
Attorneys Liability Protection Society (ALPS) (Missoula, Montana)
Joseph Beeson (Charleston)
Scott Long (Charleston)
Kemp Morton (Huntington)
Richard Robb (South Charleston)
Robert Wallace (Buckhannon)
James Wilson (Clarksburg)