10/07/2026
BU alumnus and current law student Travis Honaker recently argued his first court case, appearing before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
Honaker graduated from Bluefield University in 2024 with a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. He is now a third-year student at the Appalachian School of Law, one of Bluefield’s partner institutions.
Under the supervision of The Honorable Will Thompson, Honaker argued in the State of West Virginia v. Daniel Marcus Battle case on September 22, 2026.
From moot court to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
On September 22, Appalachian School of Law 3L Travis Honaker argued a First Degree Murder appeal before West Virginia’s highest court under the supervision of Dean Will Thompson.
The opportunity came through ASL’s partnership with West Virginia Public Defender Services, which gives students the opportunity to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in the practice of law while still completing their legal education.
For Travis, the experience marks another step in an advocacy journey he has continued to build throughout his time at ASL. He won ASL’s 2025 Intraschool Moot Court Competition, has represented the school in national moot court competition, and currently serves on ASL’s Moot Court Board.
Now, that preparation has taken him from simulated appellate arguments to presenting a real appeal before the state’s highest court.
WOWK 13 News recently spoke with Travis about the experience and the opportunity to put his legal education into practice.
Read and watch the full story:
https://www.wowktv.com/news/on-the-record-law-student-argues-before-west-virginias-highest-court/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WOWK_13_NEWS
