The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that Congress shall make no law abridging (curtailing) the right of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The process of petitioning the government regarding a person’s complaints about the government (grievances) or to seek the assistance of the government (without fear of punishment or reprisal) applies to both judicial processes (the courts) and administrative processes (administrative agencies). The U.S. Supreme Court has referred to this right to petition for redress of grievances as “among the most precious of the liberties safeguarded by the Bill of Rights.”

In West Virginia, as in all states, the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances is protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. This means that individuals in West Virginia have the right to approach the courts, administrative agencies, and other governmental bodies to express their complaints about government actions or to seek assistance without fear of punishment or reprisal. The U.S. Supreme Court has emphasized the importance of this right, considering it fundamental to the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights. While federal law establishes this right, state statutes and local laws in West Virginia must comply with it, ensuring that individuals can exercise their right to petition in various contexts, whether it be through filing lawsuits, participating in public meetings, providing public comments on proposed regulations, or other means of seeking redress from the government.