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Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, has named Sen. Tom Willis, R-Berkeley, chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary effective immediately.
Willis was elected to the Senate in 2024 after defeating former Senate President Craig Blair in the Republican primary.
Nearly all bills proposed in the legislature are reviewed by the Judiciary Committee, making the committee and its chairman a key piece of the lawmaking process.
“Judiciary is one of our busiest and most important committees, and I knew that I needed a strong, reliable leader to fill that role,” Smith said in a press release. “His extensive knowledge and background made him a natural fit. I am honored that he was willing to step up and take on this challenge, and I am confident he’s dedicated to making the lives of West Virginians and their families better.”
Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, served as the committee chair last year. He resigned from the state Senate in October after he was appointed general counsel to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Willis served as the vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee for the 2025 regular session, and serves as a member of the Government Organization, Health and Human Resources, Interstate Cooperation, Military, and Pensions committees.
The 2026 legislative regular session begins Jan. 14.