CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A newly introduced bill in the West Virginia Legislature would make clear that certain confidential records involving attorney discipline are not subject to public disclosure under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
House Bill 5366 would update state law governing the Supreme Court of Appeals’ authority over the practice of law and the West Virginia State Bar. The measure specifies that records and documents gathered under court rules for disciplining, suspending, or disbarring attorneys would be exempt from FOIA requests when those rules designate the materials as confidential.
Supporters say the bill is meant to clarify existing confidentiality protections tied to the court’s attorney discipline process and ensure sensitive investigative and disciplinary records remain private when court rules require it.
The proposal does not change the Supreme Court of Appeals’ rule-making power over legal ethics, attorney conduct, or disciplinary procedures, but reinforces that confidentiality rules adopted by the court control whether related records can be publicly released.
House Bill 5366 has been introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.
