Senator Tom Willis, R-Berkeley, will serve as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, effective immediately, Senate President Randy Smith announced.
The position opened up after the previous Judiciary Committee chairman, Mike Stuart, left to take a role as top lawyer in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Judiciary chairman before that, Charles Trump, is now serving as a justice on the state Supreme Court.
Judiciary is considered one of the Senate’s major committees, with most bills about changes to West Virginia law flowing through.
Willis served as the vice chairman during the most recent regular legislative session.
“Judiciary is one of our busiest and most important committees, and I knew that I needed a strong, reliable leader to fill that role,” said Smith, R-Preston.
“His extensive knowledge and background made him a natural fit. I am honored that he was willing to step up and take on this challenge, and I am confident he’s dedicated to making the lives of West Virginians and their families better.”
Willis was just elected to the state Senate last year, defeating incumbent Senate President Craig Blair. Willis is a former U.S. Army Green Beret and a lawyer.
He ran for U.S. Senate in 2018, coming in fourth in the Republican primary.
Earlier this year, he indicated another run for U.S. Senate.
The next Senate seat up for West Virginia in 2026 is the one currently held by Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican who took office in 2015. Capito has already received an endorsement from President Donald Trump.