CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former state Supreme Court Justice Evan Jenkins, who officially resigned Monday, says he may run for political office in the future.
“I am not ruling that out. Obviously, I seek opportunities to serve when the need is there and I feel like I can contribute,” Jenkins said on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Jenkins, who previously served as a Republican congressman representing West Virginia’s Third District, did not officially announce any campaign plans, but did indicate it was not the reason why he left the high court.
“There was no decision that motivated my exodus from the court. It’s really just to get back out and engage,” he said.
A letter of resignation was handed to Gov. Jim Justice on Friday. Jenkins said he would return to private law practice.
Jenkins was elected to the court in 2018 to temporarily replace Justice Robin Davis through 2024. He served as chief justice from Jan. 1, 2021, until Jan. 1, 2022.
.@EvanJenkinsWV caught everyone by surprise on Friday by announcing he was resigning from the court. He joins @HoppyKercheval to discuss what went into his decision. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/MQLtrijq0t
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) February 7, 2022
Jenkins said the timing to leave was right.
“I had achieved what I promised the voters back in 2018 to do and that is fix the court, reform it and get it heading back in the right direction,” he said.
The duties of a Supreme Court Justice are restrictive, Jenkins said. He wants to get out in the community more.
“You don’t want your judges and justices out working for economic development and solving problems and that’s my passion. It’s my drive. I’m looking forward to getting back out,” he said.
Jenkins said he believes the court is in good hands and the transition to replace him is running smoothly.
Chief Justice John Hutchinson has appointed Circuit Judge Alan Moats to sit temporarily on the bench until Gov. Jim Justice announces a permanent replacement.
Moats, a Grafton native, is a judge in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, serving Barbour and Taylor counties. He has served in that role since 1997.