May 28, 2015
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Rory Perry will present the “History of the West Virginia Supreme Court” in the Archives and History Library at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston, on Tuesday, June 2. The program begins at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Since 1863, the 76 justices of West Virginia’s highest court have carried out the duties of the judicial branch in a varied social, industrial and political environment. Perry has done extensive research of the court’s original records, and will present a compelling and visual timeline of the court’s history. He will discuss early events, including the post-Civil War test oath cases and the martial law cases during the Paint Creek labor strikes. He also will delve into the changing makeup of the court.
Perry is the 13th person to serve as Clerk of the Court since West Virginia became a state, and he assumed that position in 2000. He received his bachelor’s degree in English from Marshall University and his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law. Perry recently served as president of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks.
For additional information about the Archives and History lecture series, contact the Archives and History Library at (304) 558-0230.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts with Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary. The division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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