STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
At Charleston
A PROCLAMATION
By the Governor
WHEREAS, the passing of Justice Tim Armstead, has caused a vacancy in the office of Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia; and
WHEREAS, article VIII, section 7 of the Constitution of West Virginia provides that if from any cause a vacancy shall occur in the office of a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals, the Governor shall issue a directive of election to fill such vacancy in the manner prescribed by law for electing a justice of the court in which the vacancy exists, and the justice shall be elected for the unexpired term; and
WHEREAS, section 3, article 10, section 3 of the West Virginia Code provides that where an unexpired term of office for a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals is for a period longer than two years, the vacancy shall be filled by a successor who has timely filed a certificate of candidacy, and has been elected in a nonpartisan election and qualified to fill the unexpired term; and
WHEREAS, at the time of Justice Tim Armstead’s retirement, more than two years remained unexpired in the term of office for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PATRICK MORRISEY, Governor of the State of West Virginia, under the authority vested in my by the Constitution of West Virginia and the laws of this State, do hereby proclaim and declare that the unexpired term of office for Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia shall be filled by the voters of West Virginia at the primary election to be held on May 12, 2026.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great seal of the State of West Virginia to be affixed.
DONE at the Capitol in the City of Charleston, State of West Virginia, this Ninth Day of January, in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand Twenty-Six, and in the One Hundred Sixty-Third Year of the State.
PATRICK MORRISEY
GOVERNOR
By the Governor
SECRETARY OF STATE
