March 27, 2008
Qualls Suspended with Pay
No More P.J.’s in the Courtroom
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has suspended Magistrate Alvie Qualls from his post with pay. The long time magistrate has until early April to file a response to the Judicial Investigation Board’s recommendation that he be forced to retire due to alleged sexually harassing comments of certain women at the Cabell County Courthouse.
If Qualls contests the recommendation, a full hearing will be convened at the high court. Should Qualls not contest the matter, the Supreme Court still does NOT have to accept the recommendation as written.
According to a published report, Qualls has left the courthouse. He had been sleeping there and apparently occasionally holding court in his pajamas. It is unclear why the circuit judges allowed him to continue holding court sessions in sleepwear or did not admonish him.
Confined to a wheelchair, Qualls has been a virtual icon at the courthouse. He suffered a stroke which impaired his mobility and other job responsibilities. Voters still reelected him. In fact, he’s on the primary ballot.
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Qualls Suspended with Pay
No More P.J.’s in the Courtroom
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has suspended Magistrate Alvie Qualls from his post with pay. The long time magistrate has until early April to file a response to the Judicial Investigation Board’s recommendation that he be forced to retire due to alleged sexually harassing comments of certain women at the Cabell County Courthouse.
If Qualls contests the recommendation, a full hearing will be convened at the high court. Should Qualls not contest the matter, the Supreme Court still does NOT have to accept the recommendation as written.
According to a published report, Qualls has left the courthouse. He had been sleeping there and apparently occasionally holding court in his pajamas. It is unclear why the circuit judges allowed him to continue holding court sessions in sleepwear or did not admonish him.
Confined to a wheelchair, Qualls has been a virtual icon at the courthouse. He suffered a stroke which impaired his mobility and other job responsibilities. Voters still reelected him. In fact, he’s on the primary ballot.
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