Charleston, W. Va. — A taste for blue suede sofas, inlaid wooden floor maps and glass countertops has led to the retirement of two West Virginia Supreme Court justices and the impeachment of three others.
It also has created a political firestorm, as Democrats accuse the Republican-led legislature of using the impeachments to try to take control of the court, a separate branch of government.
Here are some details of spending that at least one lawmaker has described as "over the top," along with a look at the political dispute sparked by the impeachment process:
Justice Robin Davis racked up the biggest spending for office renovations at $500,000 — more than three times the average price of a home in Charleston.