MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA — Across the country, special commissions remove barriers to justice for low-income and disadvantaged people by working with courts, the bar, and legal aid organizations.
WVU Law is now home to the state’s Access to Justice Commission. Only two commissions in the country are administered by law schools.
“The Access to Justice Commission is central to fulfilling our mission as a law school to serve the region and make a national impact through our programming and service,” said Gregory Bowman, dean of the College of Law.
The West Virginia Supreme Court founded the state’s Access to Justice Commission in 2009 and transferred it to the College of Law last year. The commission recently hired a new director and has restructured its governance to include law professors, attorneys, government officials and legal aid providers. The West Virginia State Bar awarded a $75,000 grant to support the commission’s work and its transition to WVU Law.
Dan Kimble is the newly appointed director of the West Virginia Access to Justice Commission. His job includes identifying and promoting efforts that provide quality legal services to the poor and others facing substantial educational and/or geographic challenges to justice.
“I am excited about the opportunity to extend the service mission of the College of Law and to continue to serve marginalized communities in our state,” said Kimble. “Making our justice system open and accessible to everyone is among the highest callings we have as lawyers and public servants.”
Kimble was President/CEO of the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce from 2013-16. Prior to that, he served as chief counsel to the Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2007-13, and as chief counsel to the West Virginia Secretary of State from 2004-07.
Kimble earned his J.D. from WVU Law in 1999 and his Executive MBA from WVU in 2012. He also holds a bachelor's degree in religion from West Virginia Wesleyan College.
In addition to his role as director of the West Virginia Access to Justice Commission, Kimble is an associate pastor at Bridgeport United Methodist Church in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
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