List of Justices for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

Below is a complete list of justices who have served on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia since 1863.

Contents

The Court created by the 1863 West Virginia. State Constitution

# Name Party Tenure Residence County Elected Predecessor Successor Composition
1 Ralph Lazier Berkshire Republican Jun. 20, 1863 – Dec. 31, 1866 Monongalia 1863 seat created Maxwell
Sept. 10, 1868* – Dec. 31, 1872 1868^ Harrison seat abolished[1]
2 William A. Harrison Republican Jun. 20, 1863 – Sept. 1, 1868° Harrison 1863 seat created Berkshire
3 James H. Brown Republican Jun. 20, 1863 – Dec. 31, 1870 Kanawha 1863 seat created Moore 3 0
4 Edwin Maxwell Republican Jan. 1, 1867 – Dec. 31, 1872 Harrison 1866 Berkshire seat abolished[1]
5 Charles P.T. Moore Democratic Jan. 1, 1871 – Dec. 31, 1872 Mason 1870 Brown seat abolished[1] 2 1

The Court created by the 1872 West Virginia State Constitution

# Name Party Tenure Residence County Elected Predecessor Successor Composition
5 Charles P.T. Moore Democratic Jan. 1, 1873 – Jun. 1, 1881° Mason 1872 seat created[1] Patton
6 John S. Hoffmann Democratic Jan. 1, 1873 – Jun. 1, 1876° Harrison 1872 seat created[1] Edmiston
7 James Paull Democratic Jan. 1, 1873 – May 11, 1875† Ohio 1872 seat created[1] Green
8 Alpheus F. Haymond Democratic Jan. 1, 1873 – Dec. 31, 1882° Marion 1872 1876 seat created[1] S. Woods 4 0
9 Thomas C. Green Democratic Dec. 24, 1875* – Dec. 4, 1889† Jefferson 1876^ 1880 Paull Lucas
10 Matthew Edmiston Democratic Jun. 13, 1876* – Dec. 31, 1876 Lewis ----- Hoffmann Johnson
11 Okey Johnson Democratic Jan. 1, 1877 – Dec. 31, 1888 Wood 1876 Edmiston Brannon
12 James French Patton Democratic Jun. 1, 1881* – Mar. 30, 1882† Monroe ----- Moore Snyder
13 Adam C. Snyder Democratic Jun. 1, 1882* – Nov. 8, 1890° Greenbrier 1882^ 1884 Patton Holt
14 Samuel Woods Democratic Jan. 1, 1883* – Dec. 31, 1888 Barbour 1882^ A. Haymond English
15 Henry Brannon Democratic Jan. 1, 1889 – Dec. 31, 1900 Lewis 1888 Johnson
Republican Jan. 1, 1901 – Dec. 31, 1912 1900 Lynch
16 John W. English Democratic Jan. 1, 1889 – Dec. 31, 1900 Mason 1888 S. Woods Poffenbarger 4 0
17 Daniel B. Lucas Democratic Dec. 11, 1889* – Dec. 31, 1892 Jefferson 1890^ Green Dent
18 Homer A. Holt Democratic Nov. 8, 1890* – Dec. 31, 1896 Greenbrier 1890^ Snyder McWhorter
19 Marmaduke H. Dent Democratic Jan. 1, 1893 – Dec. 31, 1904 Taylor 1892 Lucas Cox
20 Henry C. McWhorter Republican Jan. 1, 1897 – Dec. 31, 1908 Kanawha 1896 Holt Williams 3 1
21 George Poffenbarger Republican Jan. 1, 1901 – Dec. 31, 1922° Mason 1900 1912 English Litz 3 1
22 Warren Miller Republican Jan. 17, 1903* – Dec. 31, 1904 Jackson ----- seat created[2] Sanders 4 1
23 Frank Cox Republican Jan. 1, 1905 – Jan. 28, 1907° Monongalia 1904 Dent Wm. Miller 5 0
24 Joseph M. Sanders Republican Jan. 1, 1905 – Oct. 1, 1907° Mercer 1904 W. Miller Robinson
25 William N. Miller Republican Jan. 28, 1907* – Aug. 7, 1928† Wood 1908^ 1916 Cox Maxwell
26 Ira E. Robinson Republican Oct. 15, 1907* – Oct. 26, 1915° Taylor 1908^ Sanders Mason
27 L. Judson Williams Republican Jan. 1, 1909 – Dec. 31, 1920 Greenbrier 1908 McWhorter Lively
28 Chas. W. Lynch Republican Jan. 1, 1913 – Dec. 31, 1921° Harrison 1912 Brannon Meredith
29 John W. Mason Republican Nov. 1, 1915* – Dec. 31, 1916 Marion ----- Robinson Ritz
30 Harold A. Ritz Republican Jan. 1, 1917 – Nov. 30, 1922° Mercer 1916 Mason Meredith
31 Frank Lively Republican Jan. 1, 1921 – Dec. 31, 1932 Kanawha 1920 Williams Kenna
32 James A. Meredith Republican Jan. 2, 1922* – Dec. 31, 1923 Marion ----- Lynch McGinnis
Jan. 1, 1923* – Nov. 4, 1924 Ritz Hatcher 4 1
33 William H. McGinnis Democratic Jan. 1, 1923 – Dec. 31, 1924 Raleigh 1922^ Meredith H. Woods
34 M.O. Litz Republican Jan. 1, 1923* – Dec. 31, 1936 McDowell 1924 Poffenbarger Fox
35 John H. Hatcher Republican Nov. 4, 1924 – Dec. 31, 1940 Raleigh 1924^ 1928 Meredith Rose 5 0
36 Homer B. Woods Republican Jan. 1, 1925 – Dec. 31, 1936 Ritchie 1924 McGinnis Riley
37 Haymond Maxwell Republican Aug. 21, 1928* – Dec. 31, 1940 Harrison 1928 Wm. Miller Lovins
38 J.N. Kenna Democratic Jan. 1, 1933 – Jan. 20, 1950† Kanawha 1932 1944 Lively Given 4 1
39 Fred L. Fox Democratic Jan. 1, 1937 – Aug. 8, 1952† Braxton 1936 1948 Litz Browning 3 2
40 James B. Riley Democratic Jan. 1, 1937 – Jun. 29, 1958† Ohio 1936 1948 H. Woods Donley
41 Herschel H. Rose Democratic Jan. 1, 1941 – Jun. 17, 1945† Marion 1940 Hatcher F. Haymond 5 0
42 William T. Lovins Democratic Jan. 1, 1941 – Jan. 11, 1957° Cabell 1940 1952 Maxwell Ducker
43 Frank C. Haymond Democratic Jul. 1, 1945* – Jun. 10, 1972† Marion 1946^ 1952 1964 Rose Haden
44 Leslie E. Given Democratic Jan. 27, 1950* – May 11, 1962† Kanawha 1950^ 1956 Kenna Caplan
45 Chauncey Browning Democratic Aug. 18, 1952* – Jun. 24, 1971† Logan 1952^ 1960 Fox Carrigan
46 Henry L. Ducker Democratic Jan. 11, 1957* – Nov. 4, 1958 Cabell ----- Lovins Berry
47 Robert T. Donley Republican Jul. 3, 1958* – Nov. 4, 1958 Monongalia ----- Riley Calhoun 4 1
48 Thornton G. Berry, Jr. Democratic Nov. 4, 1958 – Dec. 31, 1976 McDowell 1958^ 1964 Ducker Thom. Miller 5 0
49 Harlan M. Calhoun Democratic Nov. 4, 1958 – May 15, 1972° Hardy 1958^ 1960 Donley Kessel
50 Fred H. Caplan Democratic May 28, 1962* – Dec. 31, 1980 Harrison 1964^ 1968 Given McHugh
51 John E. Carrigan Republican Jul. 13, 1971* – Dec. 31, 1972 Marshall ----- Browning Sprouse 4 1
52 Charles H. Haden, II Republican Jun. 21, 1972* – Dec. 19, 1975° Monongalia 1972^ F. Haymond Wilson 3 2
53 Oliver D. Kessel Republican Jun. 23, 1972* – Dec. 31, 1972 Jackson ----- Calhoun Neely 3 2
54 James Marshall Sprouse Democratic Jan. 1, 1973 – Jun. 27, 1975° Monroe 1972 Carrigan Flowers 4 1
55 Richard Forlani Neely Democratic Jan. 1, 1973 – Apr. 15, 1995° Marion 1972 1984 Kessel Recht
56 Edwin F. Flowers Republican Sept. 8, 1975* – Dec. 31, 1976 Hancock ----- Sprouse Harshbarger 3 2
57 Donald R. Wilson Republican Jan. 26, 1976* – Dec. 31, 1976 Jackson ----- Haden D. McGraw
58 Sam R. Harshbarger Democratic Jan. 1, 1977 – Dec. 31, 1984 Cabell 1976^ Flowers Brotherton 5 0
59 Thomas B. Miller Democratic Jan. 1, 1977 – Aug. 30, 1994° Ohio 1976 1988 Berry Cleckley
60 Darrell V. McGraw, Jr. Democratic Jan. 1, 1977 – Dec. 31, 1988 Wyoming 1976 Wilson Workman
61 Thomas E. McHugh Democratic Jan. 1, 1981 – Dec. 31, 1997° Kanawha 1980 1992 Caplan McCuskey
Apr. 8, 2009* – present[3] 2010^ Albright incumbent
62 W.T. Brotherton, Jr. Democratic Jan. 1, 1985 – Aug. 31, 1995° Kanawha 1984 Harshbarger Albright 5 0
63 Margaret Workman Democratic Jan. 1, 1989 – Aug. 31, 1999° Kanawha 1988 D. McGraw Scott
Jan. 1, 2009 – present 2008 Starcher incumbent
64 Franklin Cleckley Democratic Sept. 6, 1994* – Nov. 5, 1996 Monongalia ----- Thom. Miller Davis 5 0
65 Arthur M. Recht Democratic May 26, 1995* – Oct. 15, 1996°[4] Ohio ----- Neely Maynard
66 Joseph P. Albright Democratic Sept. 26, 1995* – Dec. 31, 1996 Wood ----- Brotherton Starcher
67 Robin Davis Democratic Nov. 5, 1996 – present Kanawha 1996^ 2000 Cleckley incumbent
68 Larry Starcher Democratic Jan. 1, 1997 – Dec. 31, 2008 Monongalia 1996 Albright Ketchum
69 Spike Maynard Democratic Jan. 1, 1997 – Dec. 31, 2008 Mingo 1996 Recht Workman
70 John F. McCuskey Republican Jan. 12, 1998* – Dec. 31, 1998 Kanawha ----- McHugh W. McGraw 4 1
71 Warren R. McGraw Democratic Jan. 1, 1999 – Dec. 31, 2004 Wyoming 1998^ McCuskey Benjamin 5 0
72 George M. Scott Republican Nov. 4, 1999* – Dec. 31, 2000 Roane ----- Workman Albright 4 1
73 Joseph P. Albright Democratic Jan. 1, 2001 – March 20, 2009† Wood 2000 Scott McHugh 5 0
74 Brent D. Benjamin Republican Jan. 1, 2005 – present Kanawha 2004 W. McGraw incumbent 4 1
75 Menis Ketchum Democratic Jan. 1, 2009 – present Wayne 2008 Maynard incumbent

* appointed ----- † died in office ----- ° resigned/retired ----- ^ elected to an unexpired term

  1. ^ a b c d e f g In 1872, the new State Constitution expanded the Court to four seats requiring new elections for all seats. It also permitted former C.S.A. supporters to serve.[1]
  2. ^ Amendment 1 of the WV Constitution, adopted in 1904, expanded the Court to five seats effective in 1905 and, unlike in 1872, did not require new elections for all seats. For the interim, the amendment permitted the Governor to appoint the vacancy.[2]
  3. ^ Appointed by Governor Joe Manchin upon the death of Justice Joseph P. Albright; elected to the unexpired term on November 2, 2010, which ends on December 31, 2012.
  4. ^ Though Justice Recht had resigned, the Court issued an Administrative Order on the same date temporarily appointing him until Dec. 18, 1996.

Succession by Seat

Year Seat 1 Seat 2 Seat 3
1863
Jun. 20 Berkshire Harrison Brown
1864
1865
1866
1867 Maxwell
1868
Sept. 10 Berkshire
1869
1870
1871 Moore
1872
Year Seat 1 Seat 2 Seat 3 Seat 4 Seat 5
1873 Moore Paull Hoffmann A.F. Haymond
1874
1875
Dec. 24 Green
1876
Jun. 13 Edmiston
1877 Johnson
1878
1879
1880
1881
Jun. 1 Patton
1882
Jun. 1 Snyder
1883 S. Woods
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889 Brannon English
Dec. 11 Lucas
1890
Nov. 8 Holt
1891
1892
1893 Dent
1894
1895
1896
1897 McWhorter
1898
1899
1900
1901 Brannon Poffenbarger
1902
1903
Jan. 17 W. Miller
1904
1905 Cox Sanders
1906
1907
Jan. 28 Wm. Miller
Oct. 15 Robinson
1908
1909 Williams
1910
1911
1912
1913 Lynch
1914
1915
Nov. 11 Mason
1916
1917 Ritz
1918
1919
1920
1921 Lively
1922
Jan. 2 Meredith
1923 McGinnis Litz Meredith
1924
Nov. 4 Hatcher
1925 H.B. Woods
1926
1927
1928
Jun. 21 Maxwell
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933 Kenna
1934
1935
1936
1937 Riley Fox
1938
1939
1940
1941 Lovins Rose
1942
1943
1944
1945
Jul. 1 F.C. Haymond
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
Jan. 27 Given
1951
1952
Aug. 18 Browning
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
Jan. 11 Ducker
1958
Jul. 3 Donley
Nov. 4 Berry Calhoun
1959
1960
1961
1962
May 28 Caplan
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
Jul. 13 Carrigan
1972
Jun. 21 Haden
Jun. 23 Kessel
1973 Neely Sprouse
1974
1975
Sept. 8 Flowers
1976
Jan. 26 Wilson
1977 T. Miller Harshbarger D. McGraw
1978
1979
1980
1981 McHugh
1982
1983
1984
1985 Brotherton
1986
1987
1988
1989 Workman
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
Sept. 6 Cleckley
1995
May 26 Recht
Sept. 26 Albright
1996
Nov. 5 Davis
1997 Maynard Starcher
1998
Jan. 12 McCuskey
1999 W. McGraw
Nov. 4 Scott
2000
2001 Albright
2002
2003
2004
2005 Benjamin
2006
2007
2008
2009 Ketchum Workman
Apr. 8 McHugh
2010
2011

See also

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia