CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice William R. “Bill” Wooton will be the court’s next chief justice, the WVSUPCO announced Monday.
It said Wooton will assume that role throughout 2025, succeeding current Chief Justice Tim Armstead.
“I am honored to be selected by my colleagues to serve as chief justice in the coming year and look forward to this opportunity to lead our judicial branch,” Wooton said in a release. “West Virginia is unique in that we rotate our chief justice every year. I believe this helps strengthen our Court by allowing each of the five justices to share in the administrative work of the judicial branch while bringing our own individual perspectives to its leadership.”
Wooton was elected in 2020 to a 12-year term, which started Jan. 1, 2021. It will be his first year serving as chief justice in 2025.
The WVSUPCO also selected Justice Haley Bunn to serve as chief justice in 2026. Justice Bunn will also serve as acting chief justice in 2025 when Chief Justice Wooton is unavailable.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of our state and look forward to working with Chief Justice Wooton throughout 2025,” Justice Bunn said in the release.
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