W.Va. Chief Justice Quits in Row Over Secretary’s Firing

Richard Neely resigned today as chief justice of the state, citing “overwhelmingly unfavorable” reaction to his firing a secretary who refused to continue to baby-sit his 4-year-old son.

Neely said he will keep his seat on the Supreme Court but is giving up the role of chief justice. He also said he has offered to keep Tess Dineen as his secretary and not require her to baby-sit. Neely had fired Dineen earlier this week from her $23,000-a-year post when she refused to baby-sit his son.

Neely said the “extensive public outrage” associated with the secretary’s duties has “at least given the appearance of impropriety,” and led to his decision.

Neely had defended his practice of using his staff for baby-sitting, running errands and working on the books he writes, saying it freed his time for other matters.

The National Organization for Women had called for Neely’s resignation.