West Virginia’s Senate Judiciary chairman says he will run for the state Supreme Court.
Senator Charles Trump, R-Morgan, announced he’ll vie for the Supreme Court seat a day after an announcement by incumbent Justice John Hutchison that he will serve out his term through the end of 2024 and then retire.
“I’ve decided to announce, and I’m choosing your platform to do it, that I’m going to be a candidate in 2024 for the open seat on the Supreme Court of Appeals,” Trump said today on MetroNews’ “Talkline.” “I think I can make a contribution to the important work of the court and the judiciary.
“I will say, this wasn’t something I was planning. I think Justice Hutchison surprised many people, including me, yesterday with his announcement. And I wouldn’t have considered running against Justice Hutchison were he choosing to stand for re-election. But in the wake of his announcement, I think I bring potentially a skill set that could be of benefit to the court.”
Hutchison announced Thursday he will retire at the end of the term on Dec. 31, 2024, not running for re-election.
Hutchison, who was appointed to the court in 2018 and then won election in 2020, wrote in a letter that he wants to give anyone else considering a run for the court adequate notice.
“I believe that the Court and others need to know of my intentions so that you can plan appropriately,” Hutchison wrote.
So Trump is taking that opening.
This will be one of a couple of Supreme Court races on 2024 West Virginia ballots. The seat held by Justice Haley Bunn, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Evan Jenkins, is also up then.
Trump, 62, served in the House of Delegates from 1992 to 2006. He successfully ran for the state Senate in 2014, the year Republicans took over the majority from Democrats. He has been chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee since the 2015 regular session.
West Virginia’s judicial system races are non-partisan on ballots. Judicial elections are generally during primaries. Full Supreme Court terms are 12 years.
“You know, I always try in whatever I do to be fair and impartial. And those are requirements for anyone holding judicial office,” Trump said Friday. “I love the law, always have, and have always been willing even as a legislator to listen to multiple points of view and both sides of arguments.
“And I think all of that would lend itself well to service in the judicial branch.”