Background
Albright, Joseph P. was born on November 8, 1938 in Parkersburg, West Virginia, United States.
Albright, Joseph P. was born on November 8, 1938 in Parkersburg, West Virginia, United States.
Justice Albright earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, cum laude, from the and his law degree from the Notre Dame Law School, where he won the Webber Prize for Appellate Advocacy and was a member of the Notre Dame Law Review.
In November 2000, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals for a full 12-year term. (He served from January 2001 until his death in 2009)
In 1995, a widower, Albright married Nancie Gensert Divvens, becoming stepfather to her three adult children. Albright practiced law in Parkersburg and surrounding counties from 1962 until September 1995.
In September 1995, then-Governor Gaston Caperton appointed him to an unexpired term on the Supreme Court of Appeals.
He served through December 1996. After his former service on the Court, he resumed his law practice in Parkersburg and Charleston.
Since 1959, he has been an officer and director of Albright"s of Belpre, Incorporated., a family corporation which owns and operates Belpre Furniture, a retail furniture business with locations in Belpre, Ohio and Parkersburg. A former assistant prosecuting attorney of Wood County and former city attorney for the City of Parkersburg, Justice Albright was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1970 and to six more terms commencing in 1974.
He served as Chairman of the House Committee (1977-1978), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee (1979-1984), and as 52nd Speaker of the House of Delegates in 1985 and 1986.
He served on a number of boards and commissions, including the Parkersburg Charter Board from 1969 to 1970, when the city adopted a new charter. On September 10, 2008, then-Chief Justice Maynard named former justice Thomas McHugh to temporarily replace Justice Albright, who took medical leave after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Albright died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, aged 70.
Former clerk Charter Board of Parkerburg. Member West Virginia House of Delegates, 1970-1986, freshman member of judicial committee, chairman of house commission on education, chairman house commission on judiciary, 52nd speaker of House of Delegates, 1984-1986. Member, chairman Blennerhassett History Park Commission.
Co-chairman Blennerhassett History Commission. Member St. Francis Xavier Church, Parkersburg, past president parish advisory county.
Son of Member of Parliament and Catherine (Rathbone) A. Married Patricia Ann Deem, 1958 (dec.1993). Children: Terri Albright Cavi, Lettie Albright Elder, Joseph P. Junior, John Patrick (deceased).
Married Nancie Gensert Divvens. Stepchildren:Susan Divvens Bowman, Debbie Divvens Holcomb, Sandy Divvens Fox.