Matter of Atkinson

This matter is before this Court as an extraordinary proceeding under Rule 2.14 of the West Virginia Rules of Judicial Disciplinary Procedure. The proceeding was instituted by the Judicial Disciplinary Counsel and concerns the West Virginia indictment of the respondent, Ira W. Atkinson, Jr., for various felony and misdemeanor offenses. The sole issue before us is whether the suspension of the respondent from his office as Magistrate for Wood County, West Virginia, pending the disposition of the charges and concomitant disciplinary proceedings, should be without pay. For the reasons stated…