Dave Mistich Published

Armstead To Become Chief Justice in 2020, Jenkins To Lead Court in 2021

Supreme Court justices Evan Jenkins (left) and Tim Armstead (right) listen on in a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee on January 15, 2019.

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has selected the next two justices who will lead the court. State justices also have agreed to return the chief justice’s term to one year at a time. 

In a news release, the state supreme court says Justice Tim Armstead will become chief justice in 2020 and Justice Evan Jenkins will take over in 2021. The court made the selections at its last administrative conference. 

Gov. Jim Justice appointed Armstead and Jenkins to the court in September 2018 to fill the seats vacated by the retirements of Menis Ketchum and Robin Davis. Those vacancies came as a result of an impeachment investigation into the court for lavish spending on office renovations and other misuse of public funds. 

Both Armstead and Jenkins were elected in last November’s special election to retain their seats until the expiration of their respective terms. Armstead’s seat will run through the end of 2020, while Jenkins’ term will expire at the end of 2024. 

Armstead will take over as chief justice for Beth Walker, who was acquitted in October 2018 on one article of impeachment and has remained in office. She became chief justice at the beginning of this year.