On Friday, June 20, 2025, WV News reported that Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tim Sweeney received an admonishment from the West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission (JIC) for actions related to highlighting issues within Child Protective Services (CPS).
The JIC issued the admonishment on June 12, citing violations of four rules in the Code of Judicial Conduct, primarily concerning public statements and social media activity tied to an ongoing child abuse and neglect case.
The JIC determined that formal discipline was unnecessary due to Sweeney’s strong judicial record, opting instead for a public admonishment.
The issue stemmed from an order Sweeney issued on February 3, directing several Department of Human Services (DoHS) and Bureau of Social Services officials to appear at the Ritchie County Courthouse on February 20 to take on CPS worker assignments. Those summoned included DoHS Cabinet Secretary Alex Mayer, Deputy Commissioner Laurea Ellis, special consultant Kim Ricketts, General Counsel Chanin Krivonyak, and Bureau of Social Services Commissioner Lorie Bragg.
Sweeney discussed the order in interviews with The Parkersburg News and Sentinel and WV MetroNews, explaining it was intended to draw attention to the overwhelming caseloads faced by CPS workers in his circuit, which covers Doddridge, Pleasants, and Ritchie counties. He later rescinded the order after reaching an agreement with Mayer.
In a statement, Sweeney expressed disagreement with the JIC’s decision but accepted the admonishment, emphasizing his focus remained on child welfare.
The order followed an October 2024 abuse and neglect hearing where Sweeney directed a child’s placement in an out-of-state treatment facility. Delays in the case prompted a February 3 hearing, where CPS workers testified to being overburdened, managing cases across additional counties like Lewis and Upshur. One worker reported handling 100 families, far exceeding the recommended caseload of 10. One of the workers also requested assistance in securing more staff.
During the hearing, Sweeney raised the possibility of civil contempt charges against DoHS officials to underscore the staffing crisis, questioning whether inaction would make him complicit in the problem. A complaint filed against him on February 10 alleged he failed to notify DoHS officials.
In a May 21 sworn statement, Sweeney denied any wrongdoing, asserting he acted within his administrative authority and did not disclose confidential case details.
Sweeney, appointed to the bench in 2010 by former Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, has been re-elected multiple times, most recently in 2024. Prior to his judgeship, he served as Pleasants County prosecuting attorney from 1985 to 2010 and was a member of the Lawyer Disciplinary Board.
Source: WV News
