Budget Resource
Center

...providing state budgets, reports, and current news to help the court community make informed budgetary decisions.

West Virginia

Overview 

• West Virginia is entirely a state-funded unified court system (with the exception of municipal courts).  The state pays the salaries of the judges, court reporters, law clerks, case coordinators, and other personnel.  The state pays for automation.  The counties are only responsible for paying the salaries of the circuit clerks and their respective staff.
• West Virginia’s budget was not reduced in FY09.  Even though the Court volunteered to take a $2 million reduction in FY10 (approximately 1/2 the Governor’s request), the Legislature increased the Court’s budget in FY10 by $2 million.  Furthermore, for the fourth year in a row, an additional judgeship was created by the Legislature.
• The Governor has created a Judicial Study Commission to examine, among other things, whether West Virginia should create an intermediate appellate court.

Gavel to Gavel

• Database. Search the Gavel to Gavel legislation database based on state, year, legislation category, or any combination.

State Links

• Court Budget Web Sites
• Strategic Planning
• State Budgets for 2009
• State Budget Offices