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West Virginia Democrats Call for Judge Recusal in Data Center Cases Involving House Speaker
WV
Data Centers / Governance
April 18, 2026
Source: Targeted News Service
The West Virginia Democratic Party called on Chief Judge Dan Greear of the state's Intermediate Court of Appeals to recuse himself from cases involving data center developments in which House Speaker Roger Hanshaw serves as attorney. Hanshaw is simultaneously representing out-of-state data center developers, presiding over the House as Speaker, and advancing legislation — House Bills 2014 and 4983 — that benefits those same interests.
Chief Judge Greear previously served as Speaker Hanshaw's Chief Counsel before his 2022 court appointment. Since then, Hanshaw has hosted multiple fundraisers for Greear, raising nearly $60,000. WVDP Chair Mike Pushkin said: “When a judge has close professional, monetary, and political ties to an attorney appearing before the court — particularly one who also wields extraordinary power as Speaker of the House — public confidence in the fairness of the judicial system is at risk."
HB 2014 is the same legislation governing tax revenue distribution that Putnam County residents questioned at their commission meeting on April 14.
What You Can Do
File a judicial ethics complaint. West Virginia's Judicial Investigation Commission accepts complaints about judicial conduct. If you believe Chief Judge Greear's ties to Speaker Hanshaw create a conflict of interest, you can file a complaint through the JIC.
Contact your state legislators about HB 2014 and HB 4983. These bills govern data center tax revenue distribution. Ask your delegate and senator whether they're aware of Speaker Hanshaw's dual role as legislator and data center attorney, and whether they believe adequate conflict-of-interest protections exist.
Track data center lobbying disclosures. West Virginia's Ethics Commission maintains lobbyist registration records. Check whether data center developers or their attorneys are registered lobbyists in your state — and whether the same individuals are involved in both lobbying and litigation.
Community Takeaway
This is a governance transparency issue that extends beyond party politics. When the same official both writes data center legislation and represents data center developers in court, communities should ask who is representing the public interest. The overlap between lawmaking and lawyering for the same industry is a pattern worth watching in any state where data center legislation is moving quickly. West Virginia's ethics rules may differ from other states, but the principle — that judicial impartiality requires distance from the parties before the court — is universal.
Source: Targeted News Service, April 18, 2026.
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