CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two recently-elected members of the state Supreme Court say theyv’e been on a fact-finding tour since the November General Election.
Justices Evan Jenkins and Tim Armstead have been on-site visits to courts and court system-related institutions.
The pair toured Highland Hospital in Charleston on Nov. 15 with Cindy Largent-Hill, the Supreme Court’s Children and Juvenile Services Director. They also met with staff.
“We care deeply about our youth and children,” Justice Jenkins told the Highland
staff. “It’s critical for us to see first-hand the important work you do.”
Justice Armstead said, “It is very important to us to do all we can from the abuse and
neglect perspective to get this right.”
Jenkins also spent part of the day at the Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center in Boone County. On Nov. 19 he visited the Shell Juvenile Center in Barboursville. He visited the Cabell County Coruthouse on Nov. 20 and watched abuse and neglect cases in Cabell County Circuit Court on Nov. 28.
Jenkins and Armstead both said they believe it’s important for justices to get away from Charleston and see how the system is working.
“I feel strongly that it is our role as Justices to not only render legally sound decisions, but to spend time away from the Capitol meeting with the over 1,500 dedicated individuals who work for the Supreme Court of Appeals and participating in community programs like I’m doing this week visiting students in the classroom,” Jenkins said.
“As we prepare for the spring term of Court that begins on January 8, I have been focusing on getting to know the people who work within our court system and learning all aspects of the Supreme Court’s work,” Justice Armstead said. “In the coming weeks and months I plan to visit circuit courts and other facilities in various regions of West Virginia as well as visit with students to discuss the important work of our state’s court system.”
Jenkins was elected to a six-year term on the Court in November, Armstead to a two-year term.