Matthew Gibson

During divorce proceedings between Matthew Gibson and his ex-wife, Raleigh County family-court judge Louise Goldston personally forced her way into Matthew’s home to search for items that were in dispute. Goldston—accompanied by Matthew’s ex-wife and the ex-wife’s attorney, among others—walked barefoot through the house, ordering Matthew’s ex-wife to seize DVDs, yearbooks, and pictures off the wall. Some of the items didn’t even belong to Matthew’s ex-wife. And when Matthew tried to record the encounter, the judge threatened him with arrest. Goldston was ultimately censured and fined, and roundly condemned, by the West Virginia high court for violating the state’s code of judicial conduct.  

When Matthew sued, Judge Goldston claimed the suit should be dismissed because she was entitled to judicial immunity. However, the District Court ruled she was not entitled to judicial immunity. Now, IJ is urging the Appeals Court to confirm the lower court’s decision and rule that Judge Goldston is not above the law.