Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state's highest court. It sits mainly in the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, though it has historically held sessions in other towns and can convene in different locations as needed. The court reviews the decisions of West Virginia’s trial courts, the circuit courts. In 2010, the court revamped its appellate rules to hear all properly perfected appeals of right from the circuit courts. In 2022, a new Intermediate Court of Appeals began operating to handle most civil, family, and administrative appeals, while the Supreme Court continues to hear criminal appeals.
Justices on the court are elected to 12-year terms in statewide, nonpartisan elections. There are five seats on the court. If a vacancy occurs, the governor appoints a replacement, and an election is held at the next general election to fill the unexpired term. The Chief Justice seat rotates among the justices each year.
The court normally holds two regular sessions each year, beginning on the second Tuesday in January and the first Wednesday in September, with the possibility of special sessions as needed.
The court’s history includes a major corruption scandal in 2018 that led to resignations, impeachments, and a series of replacements and elections that reshaped the bench. Since then, the court has continued to evolve through regular elections and appointments.
As of 2026, C. Haley Bunn serves as Chief Justice. Elections for the court shifted from partisan to nonpartisan in 2015, though party affiliations are publicly known.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:26 (CET).