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Armstead, West Virginia Supreme Court justice, dead at 60

Photo Courtesy/WV Supreme Court of Appeals Then-Chief Justice Tim Armstead welcomes new lawyers into the West Virginia State Bar during an admissions ceremony in 2024

CHARLESTON – Tim Armstead, a justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court and the first Republican speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates in more than 80 years, died Tuesday after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Armstead, 60, died just before noon Tuesday at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, the court said. He is survived by his wife Anna, his daughter Katie, and two grandchildren.

“Tim Armstead is a sterling example of the best of West Virginia,” said Chief Justice William R. “Bill” Wooton. “His abilities, talents and character were recognized by his colleagues, his neighbors, and his fellow West Virginians.

“His public service accomplishments pale in comparison in other areas of his life,” Wooton continued. “He was a natural leader, who always led by example. Tim was thoughtful, highly intelligent, an extremely hard worker, and in every decision was guided by Christian principles. Without his ever saying anything, each of his Supreme Court colleagues looked to Tim’s example on thorny ethical issues. Likewise, his knowledge of state finances has been an invaluable resource to the West Virginia judicial system.”

Armstead was appointed in 2018 to the Supreme Court by former governor Jim Justice, filling the unexpired term of former justice Menis Ketchum, who resigned just before the House of Delegates started investigating the Supreme Court in an impeachment inquiry. Ketchum later pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in a federal investigation of the Supreme Court for his use of a state purchasing card for out-of-state trips using court-owned vehicles.

A former 20-year member of the House of Delegates representing the Elkview area in Kanawha County, Armstead stepped down as House Speaker in 2018 in anticipation of a possible run for Supreme Court at that time. Armstead was selected by his colleagues as speaker in 2015 after Republicans took the majority in the House for the first time since before the Great Depression. Prior to that, Armstead was minority leader since 2006.

Both House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, who succeeded Armstead as speaker, and Senate President Randy Smith, served with Armstead in the House.

“West Virginia lost a very special person today, and I lost another wonderful friend,” Hanshaw, R-Clay, said. “Justice Tim Armstead was the very embodiment of the word gentleman. He was kind, thoughtful, smart, encouraging and deeply committed to his family, his faith and his state. He accomplished more than one lifetime’s worth in his short time here. He was a legislator, Speaker of the House and a Supreme Court Justice, but much more than that, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Tim Armstead was my friend, my mentor and a trusted confidant. I will miss him deeply.”

“I was so saddened today to hear of the passing of my friend, Justice Tim Armstead,” Smith, R-Preston, said. “When I was first elected to the House of Delegates, he set an example of honesty, integrity, faith and service that was second to none. He was an example of leadership with grace, a man who had a deep faith in God, and loved his family with all of his heart. All who were blessed to call him a friend and colleague are better people because of him. My heart is with his family during their time of grief, and I pray they find comfort in our Lord’s arms.”

Armstead also had the respect of his Democratic colleagues in the Legislature. Delegate Mike Pushkin, the chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, praised Armstead for working across the political aisle.

“West Virginia has lost a dedicated public servant with the passing of Justice Tim Armstead. Justice Armstead previously served our state as a member of the House of Delegates, where he made history as the first Republican Speaker of the House in 83 years,” Pushkin, D-Kanawha, said. “He was a man of deep faith, strong convictions, and quiet dignity. As Speaker, he worked hard to foster an environment of collegiality and respect. He viewed public service as a high honor, and his example reflected that commitment.

After his appointment to the state’s highest court, Armstead won election in a 2018 special election to continue to serve the remainder of Ketchum’s term. He won election to the Supreme Court in 2020 to a full 12-year term. During his tenure, Armstead served in the rotating position of chief justice twice in 2020 and 2024. Armstead’s fellow justices praised his integrity.

“Tim lived a life marked by integrity, servant leadership and unwavering faith, and his service on the Court reflected those values,” said Justice C. Haley Bunn. “He viewed his role as a justice not as a position of power, but as a sacred responsibility to serve others. His legacy of faithful public service will endure for generations. We grieve this profound loss of our colleague and friend, but we also give thanks for a life so well-lived.”

“With profound sadness we mourn the loss of Tim Armstead,” said Justice Charles S. Trump IV. “He leaves a legacy of dedicated and selfless service to the citizens of West Virginia. As Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates and as Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Tim Armstead’s work reflected his great integrity and love for West Virginia and her people. His leadership will be sorely missed here at the Court. Our condolences and prayers remain with his family.”

“As a recent addition to the Court, I was looking forward to working with Justice Armstead,” said justice-appointee Tom Ewing. “In my limited interactions with him, I found him to be kind and a true gentleman. He was a man of faith, conviction, and integrity and the embodiment of public service. He will be greatly missed on the Court. I offer my prayers and condolences to his wife and family.”

Armstead was born on Feb. 26, 1965, in Charleston. He graduated from Braxton County High School, the University of Charleston and the West Virginia University College of Law. Armstead began his career as a news reporter and later worked as a press intern during the late governor Arch Moore’s final term in office between 1985 and 1988. He also served as an assistant to the chief of staff of the late governor Cecil Underwood.

As an attorney, Armstead clerked for U.S. District Judge David A. Faber in the early 1990s. He spent many years as an attorney working on oil and natural gas issues. As a chief justice, Armstead focused on improving the finances of the court system, improving transparency, recruitment of guardians ad litem to represent the interests of children, and ordered a review of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

Armstead’s death will trigger the need for an appointment to succeed him on the bench By Gov. Patrick Morrisey and a special election to fill the remainder of his 12-year term.

“I’ve known Tim for a long time and know how much he loved our state,” Morrisey said. “He was a good and decent man who always tried to set the right ethical tone in all of his actions. His dedication to the rule of law and our state’s heritage was felt in all of his opinions and decisions, and his legacy will be remembered for a long time. May God grant him eternal peace. Today, Denise and I pray for Tim’s wife, Anna, his daughter, Katie, and the rest of his friends and family as all of West Virginia mourns this incredible trailblazer.”

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