Justice, Former Speaker Tim Armstead Dies At 60

This is a developing story and may be updated.

Former Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates and former Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court of Appeals, Tim Armstead, died Tuesday following a brief hospitalization. He was 60. 

Born Feb. 26, 1965, in Charleston, Armstead was a graduate of Braxton County High School, the University of Charleston and West Virginia University College of Law. He lived in Elkview with his wife, Anna. They have one daughter, a grandson and a granddaughter.

Armstead was appointed to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and took office Sept. 25, 2018. He was elected Nov. 6, 2018, to retain the seat until the end of the term that ended Dec. 31, 2020, and was elected on June 9, 2020, to a 12-year term that began Jan. 1, 2021. 

Armstead served as the Chief Justice in 2020 and 2024. 

“Tim Armstead is a sterling example of the best of West Virginia,” Chief Justice William R. “Bill” Wooton said in a press release announcing Armstead’s passing. “His abilities, talents and character were recognized by his colleagues, his neighbors, and his fellow West Virginians. Tim was elected to the House of Delegates 10 different times and was twice elected statewide to the Supreme Court of Appeals. Throughout a lengthy period of public service Tim Armstead never lost an election.”

In September 1998, Gov. Cecil Underwood appointed Armstead to the House of Delegates to fill the seat vacated by the death of Del. Dick Henderson. Armstead was then elected to the seat that November. He represented Kanawha County in the 40th District. 

In 2015, Armstead became the first Republican Speaker of the House of Delegates in 84 years, serving in the position until 2018. Armstead is originally from Clendenin, West Virginia. He had been Minority Leader since 2006.

Armstead began his public service career as a press intern for Gov. Arch Moore. He later worked as executive assistant to the Chief of Staff of Gov. Cecil Underwood. He served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge David A. Faber.

He served on the Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Families during Underwood’s administration and on the Board of the Elk River Community Council. He also is a Knight of the Golden Horseshoe.

A fiscal conservative, Armstead consistently sought to control spending and more efficiently manage how government agencies spent public funds.

“Our new Supreme Court has worked hard to ensure that the judiciary’s budget sets the right priorities and spends the taxpayers’ hard-earned money more efficiently,” then-Chief Justice Armstead said when presenting the Supreme Court’s budget in 2020 – a budget that was $4 million less than prior years’ budgets.

Justice Armstead also worked to retain and recruit attorneys to provide guardian ad litem services in child abuse and neglect cases – an area of critical need across the state. During his tenure as chief justice in 2024, he worked with officials at the West Virginia University College of Law, the State Bar, Public Defender Services and other agencies on ways to encourage law students and attorneys to serve as guardians ad litem.

Officials Mourn A Colleague, Mentor

West Virginia politicians and leaders expressed their condolences and shared memories of Armstead on social media Tuesday afternoon.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey grieved “the passing of our friend” in a press release.

“I’ve known Tim for a long time and know how much he loved our state. He was a good and decent man who always tried to set the right ethical tone in all of his actions,” Morrisey wrote. “His dedication to the rule of law and our state’s heritage was felt in all of his opinions and decisions, and his legacy will be remembered for a long time.”

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., who appointed Armstead to the state Supreme Court, expressed his sadness at his passing on X.

“He was a thoughtful, steady presence on the bench and as a Speaker of the House,” Justice wrote. “Above all, he cared deeply about West Virginia and our people.”

In a statement on the West Virginia Legislature’s website, Senate President Randy E. Smith, R-Preston, said Armstead “set an example of honesty, integrity, faith and service that was second to none.”

“He was an example of leadership with grace, a man who had a deep faith in God, and loved his family with all of his heart,” Smith wrote. “All who were blessed to call him a friend and colleague are better people because of him.”

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, also released a statement, calling Armstead “the very embodiment of the word gentleman.”

“He was kind, thoughtful, smart, encouraging and deeply committed to his family, his faith and his state,” Hanshaw wrote. “He accomplished more than one lifetime’s worth in his short time here.”

In a press release, West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, extended the party’s deepest condolences to Armstead’s family, friends, and colleagues. Pushkin reflected on serving under Armstead when he was speaker.

“He was a man of deep faith, strong convictions, and quiet dignity. As Speaker, he worked hard to foster an environment of collegiality and respect,” Pushkin wrote. “He viewed public service as a high honor, and his example reflected that commitment. His contributions to our state will be remembered with gratitude and respect.” 

“Tim was an honest and fair man respected by all who knew him. I was blessed to call Tim a true friend,” state Treasurer Larry Pack wrote on X. “He will be dearly missed, but his impact on West Virginia will live on.”

West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey called Armstead a mentor and a friend who will be impossible to replace.

“We lost one of the truly great public servants in WV,” he wrote on X. “Justice Armstead set a standard for being a husband and a dad in politics.  He likewise set the standard for ethics, kindness, intelligence and just being one the truly good people under the dome.

The West Virginia GOP released a statement on their website mourning Armstead’s passing and “honoring the extraordinary life of public service he led.”

“As the first Republican Speaker of the House of Delegates in more than 80 years, Justice Armstead helped lead West Virginia through a time of historic change with steady leadership and respect for the institutions he served. Under his leadership, West Virginia began its transformation towards a truly conservative state,” the statement reads. “Justice Armstead will be remembered not only for his accomplishments but also for his character. He was a man of humility and compassion.”