Attorney Charles Phalen, Jr. of St. Alban’s WV; ethical troll

The state of West Virginia presented Charles Lee Phalen, Jr. with a law license in 1981 after he graduated from the University of West Virginia School of Law.

The Lawyer Disciplinary Board found Charlie guilty of engaging in the following misconduct, all of which took place while he was employed as a Kanawha County Family Law Master.

• Failed to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary
• Engaged in illegal ex parte (one-sided) communications involving a petition to modify child support
• Failed to avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety
• Improperly used prestige of his judicial office to advance private interests
• Failed to assure that his judicial duties took precedence over all other activities
• Engaged in business inconsistent with impartial performance of a Judicial Officer
• Failed to accord to every person who has a legal interest in a proceeding, or that person's lawyer, the right to be heard according to law (aka, due process)
• The husband and wife informed Charlie that the husband was suffering from multiple sclerosis and, as a consequence, his income had decreased drastically
• Charlie improperly telephoned the husband arranged to visit his home for the purpose of informing him of a way in which he could earn extra income
• While visiting the husband’s home, Charlie attempted to get him to agree to become a sales representative for Amway
• When Charlie left the husband's home, he left behind various Amway brochures and a cassette
• Charlie  next telephoned the wife and attempted to gain her interest in selling Amway products; however, she was resistant to the idea and would not allow Charlie to visit her home.
• Failed to promote public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary
• Charlie used information he obtained in a judicial hearing in an attempt to promote his own personal financial gain

As a direct consequence of his misconduct, the apologists for Judicial/Attorney Misfits sitting on the West Virginia Supreme Court punished Charlie by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.

As we speak (ca. September 2023), Charlie practices his so-called brand of law at 218 6th Avenue in Saint Albans, West Virginia.