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W. Va. Code Jud. Conduct 2.5

Not legal advice. Verify against official sources before relying on this text in any legal matter.

Rule 2.5 Competence, Diligence, and Cooperation

Canon 2: A Judge Shall Perform The Duties Of Judicial Office Impartially, Competently, And Diligently

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Rule Text

(A) A judge shall perform judicial and administrative duties, competently and diligently.

(B) A judge shall cooperate with other judges and court officials in the administration of court business.

Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)

This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.

Judges are expected to know the law and do their jobs well. This means staying on top of cases, making timely decisions, and handling both courtroom work and administrative tasks without unnecessary delays. A judge who drags their feet on rulings or fails to keep up with their workload is not meeting this standard.

Judges also need to work well with others in the court system. This includes other judges, clerks, and court staff. Courts run more smoothly when everyone cooperates, so a judge should not create unnecessary conflict or refuse to work with court officials just because of personal disagreements or ego.

For people involved in a court case, this rule matters because it means you have a right to expect your case will move forward without needless delays. It also means the judge should be working with the rest of the court system, not against it, to make sure your case gets handled properly.

Committee Notes

COMMENT

[1] Competence in the performance of judicial duties requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation reasonably necessary to perform a judge's responsibilities of judicial office.

[2] A judge should seek the necessary docket time, court staff, expertise, and resources to discharge all adjudicative and administrative responsibilities.

[3] Prompt disposition of the court's business requires a judge to devote adequate time to judicial duties, to be punctual in attending court and expeditious in determining matters under submission, and to take reasonable measures to ensure that court officials, litigants, and their lawyers cooperate with the judge to that end.

[4] In disposing of matters promptly and efficiently, a judge must demonstrate due regard for the rights of parties to be heard and to have issues resolved without unnecessary cost or delay. A judge should monitor and supervise cases in ways that reduce or eliminate dilatory practices, avoidable delays, and unnecessary costs.

Clerk's Notes on Rule 2.5

Rule 2.5 and its comment are based entirely on the 2007 Model Rules.

← Previous Rule 2.4: External Influences on Judicial Conduct Next → Rule 2.6: Ensuring the Right to be Heard