State Ex Rel. Partain v. Oakley

Berry, Chief Justice:

In this extraordinary proceeding, George L. Partain, a licensed practicing attorney in Logan County, West Virginia, seeks a writ from this Court prohibiting the Honorable Harvey Oakley, Judge of the Circuit Court of Logan County, from requiring him to represent one Sam Lambert, a defendant in criminal proceedings in the circuit court. The petitioner’s obligation to represent Lambert arises out of an order of appointment in accordance with the provisions of W. Va. Code, 62-3-1, as amended.

This Court is called upon to resolve two questions raised by the matter before us.…