Attorneys for Robert and Kim
Woodruff filed the lawsuits in federal and state court alleging the violation
of constitutional rights and wrongful termination. The suits name several
individuals and state agencies as defendants.
Kim Woodruff was the judge’s
secretary and a federal indictment alleges the two had a romantic relationship
but the judge wanted more. When she broke it off the judge went after her
husband. Robert Woodruff was arrested twice and indicted by a Mingo County
The Woodruffs’ attorneys Mike
Callaghan and Richard Neely both said during a Monday afternoon news conference
the actions by the judge and others at his bidding are the worst in the state’s
judicial history.
“This is the single most outrageous
breach of judicial conduct, judicial ethics. It is utterly and completely
beyond anything imaginable in this state,” Neely, a former West Virginia
Supreme Court justice, said.
Callaghan said Robert Woodruff was
afraid to step out of his home for five years.
“He lived under fear that at any
moment he could be arrested and sent to jail for crimes that he did not commit
and he was arrested two times for crimes he did not commit,” Callaghan said.
Neely said Kim Woodruff was under
pressure from Judge Thornsbury to have a more serious relationship. He said she
feared losing her job and tried to ”finesse” the relationship with the
judge but Neely said she did not have a consensual sexual
relationship with him.
“Was there forced hugging? Was
there forced kissing? Yes, quite conceivably and that will all come out in
depositions. But was there a sexual relationship or an affair? Absolutely not,”
according to Neely.
The lawsuits also name State
Trooper Brandon Moore, Mingo County Homeland Security Director Jarrod Fletcher
and Gilbert police officer Nathan Glanden. Callaghan said they could have
stopped Judge Thornsbury but did not.
“All three of those individuals
took an oath to uphold the constitution and all three failed in their duty to
do so,” he said.
Neely said Moore, Fletcher and
Glanden got a free pass because they cooperated with federal prosecutors and
testified before a federal grand jury. He said they now need to pay for their
actions.
“This lawsuit is the one
opportunity that the citizens of this state have to punish those people because
they cut a deal and walked out after utterly reprehensible conduct…scot-free,”
Neely said.
Thornsbury is scheduled to plead
guilty Wed. to other federal charges and the indictment involving the Woodruffs
will be dismissed. Callaghan said that would have no bearing on the civil lawsuits.
Callaghan added the insurance
company representing the state had initial conversations with him about
possible settlements but pulled back last week because of the numerous state
agencies named in connection with the lawsuits.
