Joseph P. Albright, 1938-2009

West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Joseph P. Albright died Friday after being flown to Pittsburgh with complications from esophageal cancer, The Associated Press reports. He was 70.

The News and Sentinel of Parkersburg also marks the death of the local resident. He had previously represented Wood County in the House of Delegates, where he rose to lead as speaker in the mid-1980s.

The Charleston Gazette talked to U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers, also a former speaker and House colleague of Albright.

"Chambers cited two key issues where Albright's ability to bring conflicting interests together resulted in time-tested legislation -- statewide property reappraisal and legislation reacting to the Supreme Court's 1978 decision that allowed workers to sue their employers," The Gazette reported.

As justice, "Albright helped form the majority in 91 percent of the cases that resulted in a published opinion by the court between 2001 and 2007, more often than any of the three other justices who served with him during that time," AP reports.

Others with coverage include MetroNews. Retired Justice Thomas McHugh, who had been filling in for Albright, will continue to serve in that stead until Gov. Joe Manchin appoints a successor.