STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
At Charleston
A PROCLAMATION by the Governor
WHEREAS, the retirement of Justice Elizabeth D.
Walker, 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 non partisan
election and qualified to fill the unexpired term; and
WHEREAS, at the time of Justice Elizabeth D. Walker’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.
GOVERNOR
By the Governor
SECRETARY OF STATE
16563