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Supreme Court Justice Evan Jenkins announces he’s stepping down

West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Evan Jenkins has announced his resignation from the court, effective Monday.

The court announced his resignation by distributing a letter from Jenkins, who was first appointed to the court in 2018. Speculation began immediately that Jenkins, a former congressman, could be considering a run for governor in 2024.

“After a great deal of prayer and careful careful consideration with my family, I have decided to return to the practice of law and put my years of state and federal experience to work promoting job-creating economic development projects and championing the issues I so deeply believe will benefit the people of West Virginia,” he wrote.

Jenkins was named to the court on Oct. 1, 2018, to temporarily replace Justice Robin Davis, who stepped down after a legislative inquiry into the entire court. Jenkins was elected to the seat in November, 2018, for a term that ends in 2024.

“I joined the Supreme Court with a clear and specific promise to work every day to fix the problems of the past, follow the Constitution, and restore the public’s trust in our highest Court. Working together, I firmly believe the Court is much better positioned than it once was,” Jenkins wrote in a letter to court employees.

Jenkins noted that he had met with Gov. Jim Justice today to inform the governor of his decision. Justice praised Jenkins’ time on the court and said he would name a worthy successor to the role.

Gov. Jim Justice

“Evan has devoted his entire life to public service and, on behalf of all West Virginians, we thank him,” Justice stated “It was one of my highest honors to appoint Evan to our Supreme Court in 2018 and, since then, he and his colleagues have restored honor and integrity to our court.

“I look forward to appointing a new justice who can fill his shoes and carry the torch of honor and integrity well into the future.”

The governor noted that the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission will immediately begin the process of filling this vacancy with an appointee to serve on the court until the people of West Virginia elect a new justice.

The Secretary of State’s Office said an election for a new justice will likely be next fall:

“Because the resignation is reported to be effective Feb. 6, 2022, which is after the close of the candidate filing period (Jan. 29, 2022), unless the Legislature amends the current vacancy filling statute for WV Supreme Court, then the remainder of Justice Jenkins’ unexpired term will on the 2022 General ballot.”

Jenkins, a Huntington resident, initially held public office as a Democrat and then as a Republican. Court elections are nonpartisan in West Virginia.

He served in the House of Delegates, state Senate, Congress and then on the Supreme Court. He served as chief justice from Jan. 1, 2021, until Jan. 1, 2022.

Jenkins ran for U.S. Senate in early 2018, but was defeated in the Republican primary.

In a letter to the governor, Jenkins wrote, “I am grateful for the opportunity you and the voters of West Virginia gave me to make a positive contribution to the state through the judicial system.

“I joined the Supreme Court with a clear and specific promise to work every day to fix problems of the past, follow the Constitution, and restore the public’s trust in our highest court.”

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito praised Jenkins’ public service. “You have stood as a pillar of fairness and transparency in our court system, and I wish you all the best in the future,” she wrote.

 





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