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Judicial Elections
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Elections 2026
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 12-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in West Virginia?
- Highest court
- Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia — 5 justices
- How chosen
- Nonpartisan election
- Voters
- Voters elect justices
- Term
- 12 years
- To serve again
- Run for re-election
- 2026 ballot
- 2 seats, decided May 12, 2026
How West Virginia chooses its judges
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 12-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats.
- Seats: 5 justices on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
- Term: 12 years.
- To serve again: Run for re-election.
- Other courts: All courts use nonpartisan elections.
Races are decided in May, with the primary.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia elections in 2026
West Virginia decided its 2 seats on May 12, 2026, so no Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia race is on the November ballot.
Gerald M. Titus III’s seat (special election)
Decided- H.L. Kirkpatrick (winner)Won
- Gerald M. Titus IIIIncumbent
- Laura Faircloth
- Todd Kirby
- Martin Sheehan
Kirkpatrick won with 31% to Titus’s 26% in a five-way race.
Tom Ewing’s seat (special election)
Decided- Bill Flanigan (winner)Won
- Tom EwingIncumbent
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Party labels are not shown because they do not appear on the ballot.
How to research judges on your West Virginia ballot
- Your sample ballot: West Virginia’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in West Virginia — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in West Virginia
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. West Virginia’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
West Virginia’s senators: James Justice (Republican) and Shelley Capito (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
No federal judge for a court in West Virginia has been confirmed by roll-call vote in 2026.
District judges for courts in West Virginia and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in West Virginia as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in West Virginia?
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 12-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats. All courts use nonpartisan elections.
How long is a term on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia?
12 years. At the end of a term, they must run again to keep their seats.
Who is running for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia in 2026?
West Virginia's 2 seats were decided on May 12, 2026: H.L. Kirkpatrick, Bill Flanigan.
How do I research judges on my West Virginia ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://ovr.sos.wv.gov/Register/Landing lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in West Virginia?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. West Virginia's senators, James Justice and Shelley Capito, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in West Virginia
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
West Virginia Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.