The state of West Virginia voted Tuesday to approve a judicial budget oversight amendment. 

The amendment allows the West Virginia legislature to reduce the judicial budget by no more than 15 percent.

Providing that the total general revenue appropriations to the judiciary may be reduced in the budget bill, and setting fort the required procedures to be followed by the Legislature to enact any decrease in the total general revenue appropriations to the judiciary to an amount that is less than 85 percent of the amount of the total general revenue appropriations to the judiciary in the most recently enacted budget.

Backed by bipartisan support after many news reports about misuse of the budget within the judicial branch and the impeachment of the entire state Supreme Court, the amendment will allow the legislature to have greater oversight over the judicial branch.

In addition, the amendment lays out procedures for the legislature to inquire about the judicial budget. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals is now required to appear in front of the legislature and answer questions about the budget.

The amendment received 72 percent of the popular vote.