Bailey & Wyant, PLLC Member Mark A. Kepple has been elected to the WV State Bar Board of Governors for District 1, which includes Brooke, Hancock and Ohio counties.

Mark A. Kepple is a Member of the law firm of Bailey & Wyant, PLLC's Wheeling office where he practices in general litigation successfully trying cases in Northern West Virginia and Eastern Ohio. His particular interests include litigating personal injury matters, employment and civil rights disputes, consumer actions, product liability cases, construction defects and oil & gas disputes.

Among 16 Districts within the state, Mr. Kepple was nominated and elected by his peers in District 1, to represent their interest within WV State Bar meetings. He has been elected to listen to the needs and ideas of his district, bring their concerns to the board and make his recommendations on voting matters.  As a Member of the Board of Governors it is his responsibility to keep District 1 informed on all matters of the WV State Bar, investigate matters that come before the board, and make his recommendations through his voting power. Acting as a liaison for District 1, Mr. Kepple will be a liaison to oversee operations of the WV State Bar, fiducially responsible for the decisions made within his term.

Article IV of the WV State Bar Constitution By-Laws states the West Virginia State Bar shall be governed by a board of governors. There shall be a lawyer disciplinary board and a committee on unlawful practice. There shall also be for each state bar district created by the by-laws a committee on grievances. Such board shall select a president, a president elect, a vice president, a executive director and the members of said committees. Such board may from time to time create, alter and terminate other offices and committees, with such powers, authority and duties as it may deem proper. All officers, except the executive director and administrative assistants, and the members of such committees shall be selected with either from membership of such board or from the West Virginia State Bar.

The Board of Governors consists of 24 members and currently each elected governor serves a three-year term and is not permitted to succeed themselves. As an agency under the West Virginia Supreme Court, the WV State Board of Governors makes its recommendations to the court within the interests of its constituents.