Some of the content on this site can be syndicated using a format called RSS, denoted by: , the white-on-orange XML button. Users can subscribe to these feeds using software programs called news aggregators; feeds can also be incorporated directly into Web sites and other Web applications. (See this page to learn more.

The Court has four newsfeeds available:

 Recent
 Civil
 Criminal
 Family

The feeds are condensed versions of the main content on the recent opinions page, the civil topics page, the criminal topics page, and the family topics page.

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia releases slip opinions weekdays at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, except for separate opinions, which may be released at any time after the majority opinion is released. All opinions are released by the Clerk's Office. Prior to release, the Clerk's Office contacts the parties and the lower court regarding the release of the opinion. Shortly after the release time, new slip opinions are added, in numerical order, to the current term list . In addition, summaries of recent opinions are available, as well as topical pages covering civil, criminal, and family law matters.

Subscribe to the Opinion Summary Mailing List. This e-mail bulletin is prepared throughout the term by the Clerk's Office. Subscribers to the free service receive periodic e-mail messages containing summaries of recently-filed opinions, organized by topic for easy reference, along with links to the full text opinions.

 Opinion Lists

Current Term: View the list of all opinions released in the January 2010 term of court. Opinions are listed in numerical order according to case number. Majority, dissenting, and concurring opinions are listed separately. Refer to the recent opinions page for summaries.

 Opinion Services

Current Awareness Keep up to date on the most recent opinions by subscribing to the Opinion Summary Mailing List. This e-mail bulletin is prepared throughout the term by the Clerk's Office. Subscribers to the free service receive summaries of recently-filed opinions, organized by topic for easy reference, along with links to the full text opinions.

Collected Opinion Summaries: A supplement to the periodic e-mails, collected opinion summaries from prior terms are available online on single pages for easy searching and printing: September 2001 Term; January 2002 Term; and the September 2002 Term. If do not receive the opinion summaries by e-mail, summaries of the most recent opinions, along with other news, are posted on this page. If you are only interested in certain types of opinions or court news, the updates are separated into three topical pages: civil, criminal, and family law matters.

Topical Index of Opinions:  The Clerk's Office prepares concise summaries of the Court's opinions containing new points of law,  grouped by topic, in a manner that can be easily used by lawyers, judges, and members of the public as a general reference guide to recent Supreme Court opinions. From time to time, these summaries are collected into printed and electronic formats. The newest electronic topical index is this Web-based outline of cases filed in the September 2002 term.

Topical Index Volume I is a 470 page spiral-bound volume covering opinions issued September 1989 through December 1998.  Volume I is available in a print at a cost of $25.00.

Topical Index Volume II. Covers all 1999 and 2000 signed opinions in-depth.  In addition, short summaries of all per curiam opinions filed in 2000 are included in the updated Volume II.  Volume II is available in a perfect-bound printed version at a cost of $15.00.

Get Both Topical Index Volumes on CD-ROM for $25

To order the print or electronic version of the Topical Index, contact the Clerk's Office.

 Opinion Information

What is a slip opinion? When the Court grants a petition for appeal, the case is set for briefing and oral argument, if necessary, and is then submitted to the Court for decision. When the Court decides the case, it issues a printed document called a slip opinion, which contains the decision of the Court, as well as information about the case, the authorship of the opinion, and the "syllabus of points adjudicated" or syllabus for short. The syllabus is a helpful guide to understanding slip opinions, because it contains a concise summary of the points of law reviewed in the opinion.

Are slip opinions final? The "slip opinions" appearing on this Web site are not the final, official opinions of the Court.   Slip opinions are subject to modification and petitions for rehearing pursuant to Rule 24 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Readers are therefore advised, that opinions of the Court remain subject to clerical correction until officially published in the bound volumes of the West Virginia Reports (West Publishing Co.). For other information about the use of this site, please consult the Terms of use.  

Corrections: Readers are encouraged to notify the Clerk of the Supreme Court, State Capitol, Room E-317, Charleston, WV 25301, of any typographical or other formal errors so that corrections may be made before final publication in the permanent volume. 

Obtaining copies of opinions: Users are encouraged to print documents as needed from this website. Most documents can be printed directly from within the web browser. More recent opinions (2000 - present) are available as Adobe™ Acrobat™ PDF© files, a format that preserves the look and feel of the original slip opinions.  (Adobe Acrobat PDF files require use of a free Reader.)  If you wish to obtain hard copy of any of these opinions or other opinions or  briefs you may do so by contacting the Supreme Court Clerk's Office at (304) 558-2601. The charge for copies is as follows: $1 per page for all opinions, .25 per page for copies of documents in pending cases and $1 per page for documents in closed cases.  Fax charges are $5 for the first page, $2 for the second page and $1 per page after that.   There is a $2 per page charge for any documents reproduced from microfilm.

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