Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

Supreme Court of Appeals
of West Virginia
Seal of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Map
Established1863; 1872
JurisdictionWest Virginia West Virginia, United States United States
LocationCharleston, West Virginia
Composition methodNon-partisan election
Authorized byWest Virginia Constitution
Appeals toSupreme Court of the United States (Federal cases only)
Judge term length12 years
Number of positions5
WebsiteSupreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Chief Justice
CurrentlyTim Armstead
SinceJanuary 1, 2024
Lead position endsDecember 31, 2024
Jurist term ends2032

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 to 1915, it was also required by state law to hold sessions in Charles Town in the state's Eastern Panhandle.[1] The court also holds special sittings at various locations across the state.

Although the West Virginia Constitution allowed for an intermediate court of appeals to be created, the Legislature declined to do so from 1974 until 2021. Thus, the Supreme Court provided the only review of the decisions of the state's trial courts of general jurisdiction, the West Virginia Circuit Courts, during that period. In December 2010, the Supreme Court promulgated a major revision of West Virginia's rules of appellate procedure, by which it provided that it would hear all properly perfected appeals of right from the circuit courts.[2] Beginning July 1, 2022 a new intermediate appellate court, the Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia, is in operation, overseeing administrative, family, and civil appellate jurisdiction while criminal cases will continue to only be reviewed by the Supreme Court. [3]

Justices are elected to 12-year terms in staggered, statewide, nonpartisan[4] elections. In years that two seats are up for election, a separate election is held for each seat. Before 2015, the justices of the court were elected in partisan elections; no justices remain from the partisan era.

Pursuant to the West Virginia Code (chapter 51), the Court holds two regular sessions annually with the first session commencing on the second Tuesday in January and the second session commencing on the first Wednesday in September. The Court may also sit in special session as needed.[5]

Upon the death, resignation, or removal of a sitting justice, Article 8, Section 2 of the West Virginia Constitution permits the Governor to appoint a replacement. An election to fulfill the unexpired term must be held by the next regular general election. Because of the long length of the court's term (12 years), mid-term vacancies are frequent.[6]

  1. ^ "On This Day in West Virginia History - August 6". www.wvculture.org.
  2. ^ "State v. McKinley, No. 13-0745, 234 W. Va. 143 (2014)". FindLaw. Retrieved January 25, 2020. As a result of the widespread changes to the appellate process in this State that took place in 2010, the number of written decisions on the merits issued by the Court has expanded significantly. The appeal by right process adopted by the Court has been fully implemented . . .
  3. ^ "West Virginia Code".
  4. ^ "Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia". www.courtswv.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  5. ^ "WV Code Chapter 51". www.legis.state.wv.us.
  6. ^ "West Virginia Constitution". www.legis.state.wv.us. Retrieved 11 April 2018.