Neighboring Nicholas County Judge Stephen Callaghan was suspended today without pay for two years for lies he made during last years' judicial election which he won by 227 votes.
During his campaign against incumbent judge Gary Johnson, Callaghan, among other things, put out a flyer saying that while Nicholas County citizens were losing jobs, Johnson was at the White House partying with President Obama. The postcard flyer was photoshopped and completely false and Callaghan knew it was false when he authorized it, according to the West Virginia Supreme Court.
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This is part of the postcard flyer that resulted in Judge Callaghan's two year suspension without pay. |
Today, the West Virginia Supreme Court suspended Callaghan from office without pay for two years, fined him $15,000.00, and made him pay the costs of the disciplinary action.
All five justices agreed that Callaghan should be suspended for at least two years. One justice argued the two year suspension was not long enough, suggesting that at least three or four years would be more appropriate because of the lies and falsehoods made by Callaghan during the election.
The Court's full opinion can be read here:
The full opinion of the justice who wanted a longer suspension can be read here:
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