Today in Wheeling History: October 28--Judge Arthur M. Recht passed away in Wheeling at age 80 (2018).
Born on February 4, 1938, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Arthur Mark Recht was a product of the city’s civic and cultural fabric. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1962. Recht began his legal career in Wheeling and was appointed Circuit Judge for Ohio County in 1981. His most enduring legacy came in 1982 with the “Recht Decision,” a sweeping ruling that declared West Virginia’s public school funding system unconstitutional and mandated equitable resources for all students statewide.
Recht served on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals from 1995 to 1996 and returned to the First Judicial Circuit until his retirement in 2012. Known for his commanding courtroom presence and intellectual rigor, Recht was also deeply involved in Temple Shalom and local civic life. He mentored young attorneys and was remembered for his warmth, wit, and love of classical music—especially Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”
Judge Recht died on October 28, 2018, after suffering a stroke. He is buried in Jewish Memorial Park in Ohio County, WV. His impact on education equity and judicial integrity continues to shape West Virginia’s legal landscape.
Arthur M. Recht – Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/4wtbskx6), Find a Grave – Arthur M. Recht (https://tinyurl.com/ywj83a6v), Judge Recht Tribute – Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/4a6k6b2f)
Photo credits: Weelunk, Find a Grave
Born on February 4, 1938, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Arthur Mark Recht was a product of the city’s civic and cultural fabric. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1962. Recht began his legal career in Wheeling and was appointed Circuit Judge for Ohio County in 1981. His most enduring legacy came in 1982 with the “Recht Decision,” a sweeping ruling that declared West Virginia’s public school funding system unconstitutional and mandated equitable resources for all students statewide.
Recht served on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals from 1995 to 1996 and returned to the First Judicial Circuit until his retirement in 2012. Known for his commanding courtroom presence and intellectual rigor, Recht was also deeply involved in Temple Shalom and local civic life. He mentored young attorneys and was remembered for his warmth, wit, and love of classical music—especially Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”
Judge Recht died on October 28, 2018, after suffering a stroke. He is buried in Jewish Memorial Park in Ohio County, WV. His impact on education equity and judicial integrity continues to shape West Virginia’s legal landscape.
Arthur M. Recht – Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/4wtbskx6), Find a Grave – Arthur M. Recht (https://tinyurl.com/ywj83a6v), Judge Recht Tribute – Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/4a6k6b2f)
Photo credits: Weelunk, Find a Grave
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