In late 2017, WCHS-TV and other media outlets began reporting on spending by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
The legislative auditor found multiple irregularities in the court's practices including undocumented[3] and commuting use of court-owned vehicles and the improper purchase of gift cards.
[5] Justice Menis Ketchum was reported to have used a state vehicle to travel from his home in Huntington to work, and for several vacation trips, without paying tax on the fringe benefit.
[9][10] On June 26, 2018, the West Virginia House of Delegates assembled in special session to consider Loughry's or any other justice's impeachment.
[13] Because of his guilty plea to a felony, the Supreme Court of Appeals annulled Ketchum's license to practice law in the state of West Virginia on October 4, 2018.
Loughry for lack of oversight, improper removal of the desk to his home, improper use of a government computer, improper use of state owned cars for personal travel, overspending on his office decorations, the overpaying of "senior status judges" and lying to the Legislature; Chief Justice Margaret Workman and Justice Robin Davis for overpaying of "senior status judges", lack of oversight, and overspending; and Justice Beth Walker for lack of oversight and overspending.
In addition, the Senate confirmed that Cabell County Circuit Judge Paul Farrell, who had been temporarily designated by the Supreme Court to fill in for Loughry, was to preside over all of the trials.
On September 11, 2018, the West Virginia Senate debated and voted on a number of preliminary issues for the four trials.
The Senate followed by agreeing, by voice vote, to publicly "reprimand and censure" Justice Walker for her actions in the scandal.
Jim Justice to call the House of Delegates into special session on November 11–13 to draft new impeachment articles against Loughry based solely on his federal criminal convictions (see below).
On August 25, 2018, Governor Jim Justice appointed Tim Armstead, former Speaker of the House of Delegates and Evan Jenkins, U.S. Representative for West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, to the two vacant seats until the special elections.
[26] Armstead and Jenkins were required to observe a mandatory twenty day waiting period in which the members of the public can file official objections to the appointments prior to taking their seats.