W.Va. Supreme Court Starts New Term Tuesday

The Associated Press previews the state Supreme Court in advance of Tuesday's start of its Spring 2009 term.

"West Virginia's legal community does not seem to expect major changes to the state Supreme Court from its two newest justices," the article said, casting Margaret Workman and Menis Ketchum as moderates likely to calm a perceived rancor at the state's top court.

"Workman and Ketchum join a five-member court that issued unanimous rulings in 77 percent of its opinions published last year. About 60 percent of those decisions were unsigned, meaning they broke no new legal ground," the article said. "But the pair also arrive amid continuing ethics allegations that have drawn national headlines since last year."