CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Justice Tim Armstead will be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia beginning January 1.
The court announced the decision on Monday, saying that Armstead was approved at the Court’s last administrative conference to fill the role beginning in 2020.
The Court also voted to return to the one-year rotation of Chief Justice and designated Justice Evan Jenkins to serve as Chief Justice in 2021, according to a release.
“I am honored to have the trust of my fellow West Virginians to serve on their Supreme Court of Appeals and to have the confidence of my fellow Justices to serve as Chief Justice in 2020,” Justice Armstead said in a release.
Jenkins will serve for Armstead in 2020 whenever Armstead is disqualified from a case.
Armstead was appointed to the court by Gov. Jim Justice to fill the seat vacated by the retirement of Justice Menis Ketchum. Armstead took office on September 25, 2018, and was elected in the November 2018 elections to retain the seat until the end of the term on December 31, 2020.
Current Chief Justice Beth Walker’s term as Chief will end December 31, 2019.
“This year has been a year of rebuilding and restoration for our Court. Under the leadership of Chief Justice Beth Walker, our Court has worked to build a stronger, more open and accessible court. I am excited to have this opportunity to build upon that effort in 2020 and will work hard to ensure our court system continues to earn the trust of the people of our state,” Armstead said in a release.