Tom Ewing
Tom Ewing is a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. He assumed office on August 6, 2025. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Patrick Morrisey (R) appointed Ewing to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on August 6, 2025 to replace Beth Walker. To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Ewing served as a circuit judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Fayette County from 2018 to 2025. He has two bachelor's degrees from Glenville State College and a law degree from West Virginia University.[1]
Appointments
2025
Governor Patrick Morrisey (R) appointed Thomas Ewing to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia to replace outgoing Justice Beth Walker, who retired on June 27, 2025.[2] Ewing was appointed on August 6, 2025, and is Governor Morrisey's (R) first nominee to the five-member supreme court. He took office the same day.
In West Virginia, state supreme court justices are elected in nonpartisan elections. There are 13 states that use this selection method. To read more about the nonpartisan election of judges, click here.
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement from a list of two to five qualified applicants submitted by a nominating commission.[3] The appointee serves until the next general election, at which point he or she may compete to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.[4]
Elections
2016
Elections for the West Virginia State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 30, 2016. Incumbent William Laird (D) did not seek re-election.
Kenny Mann defeated Dave Perry in the West Virginia State Senate District 10 general election.[5][6]
| West Virginia State Senate District 10, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Kenny Mann |
54.73% | 21,148 | |
| Democratic | Dave Perry | 45.27% | 17,494 | |
| Total Votes | 38,642 | |||
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State | ||||
Dave Perry ran unopposed in the West Virginia State Senate District 10 Democratic primary.[7][8]
| West Virginia State Senate District 10, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Dave Perry (unopposed) | |
Kenny Mann defeated Tom Ewing and Dan Hill in the West Virginia State Senate District 10 Republican primary.[7][8]
| West Virginia State Senate District 10, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Kenny Mann |
47.05% | 4,343 | |
| Republican | Tom Ewing | 37.31% | 3,444 | |
| Republican | Dan Hill | 15.63% | 1,443 | |
| Total Votes | 9,230 | |||
Endorsements
In 2016, Ewing's endorsements included the following:[9]
- West Virginia Chamber of Commerce PAC
- West Virginians for Life
- West Virginia Bankers Association PAC
- West Virginia Business & Industry Council (WVBIC)
Campaign themes
2016
Ewing's campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
I am running for State Senate because West Virginia is at a critical point. The State can either build on the momentum from the 2015 legislative session or the State can turn back to the failed policies of the past 80+ years. The politics of the past have failed West Virginia. At this critical juncture, it is imperative that the State elect pro-jobs leaders, with fresh and different ideas and the political will to implement policies to move the State forward. As a first-time candidate for public office, I provide a fresh face with a new perspective and philosophy. I am running for State Senate because I have witnessed the fallout of the State’s struggling economy in my own family. Within the last year, my father has been laid off from his job as a surface coal miner, my mother forced into early retirement with the post office, my aunt faces the loss of her job based on another coal company bankruptcy, and my cousin has had to move to North Carolina to look for work. As a business owner and attorney representing small businesses and large employers for over 11 years, I believe that I can make a difference with the economy. I will work to fight against the Obama Administration’s War on Coal to preserve valuable jobs and tax revenue for our State, to empower small businesses and entrepreneurs, and to explore economic development opportunities beyond coal. I will work to continue to improve the business climate in the State by supporting tort reforms, tax reform, and regulatory reform. I am running for State Senate because the children of this State deserve a better education from a better education system. My children attend public school. I see first-hand that the current education system in my county and other parts of Southern West Virginia is inadequate in preparing our children for the jobs of the future and to compete in the global marketplace. In some instances, school buildings are crumbling or have already been condemned. This is unacceptable. Education must be a priority. As a former certified teacher, I believe that I can make a difference with education. Unless we continue to improve the business climate of the State, however, our children and grandchildren will still be forced to move to surrounding states to look for better jobs. We must simultaneously improve our educational system and continue constructing a stronger business climate to attract the quality jobs needed to enable our children and grandchildren to remain close to home. I am running for State Senate because my heart breaks for children and families devastated and destroyed by rampant drug abuse and addiction in our State. From my short time handling appointed abuse and neglect cases in Fayette County, it is clear to me that our criminal justice system, courts, and child protective services are overburdened by the ill effects of drugs in our communities. In areas where it used to be safe to leave their houses unlocked, citizens now fear home invasions and robberies. The drug epidemic hinders the State’s ability to attract quality jobs as many prospective employees are simply unable to pass random drug tests. We must vigilantly protect the innocent children harmed by drugs, but we must find better ways to rehabilitate drug offenders. I don’t have all the answers and won’t promise that electing me to the State Senate will solve all of the State’s problems. I can promise you, however, that I will listen to your concerns and I will roll up my sleeves and work hard to explore solutions to pull the State out of the economic abyss into which it is heading, to provide better education for our children, and to stem the tide of hopelessness, despair, and institutional enabling that is washing thousands of West Virginians into drug abuse and addiction that is tearing apart our families and harming our children.[10] |
” |
| —Tom Ewing, [11] | ||
State supreme court judicial selection in West Virginia
- See also: Judicial selection in West Virginia
The five justices of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals are chosen in nonpartisan statewide elections to serve 12-year terms. They must run for re-election when their terms expire.[4]
Qualifications
To serve on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, a judge must be:
- a citizen of West Virginia for at least five years;
- at least 30 years old; and
- practiced in law for at least 10 years.[4]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court of appeals is selected by peer vote for a one-year term.[4]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement from a list of two to five qualified applicants submitted by a nominating commission.[3] The appointee serves until the next general election, at which point he or she may compete to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.[4]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ West Virginia Office of the Governor Patrick Morrisey, "Governor Patrick Morrisey Appoints Thomas H. Ewing to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia," August 6, 2025
- ↑ Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, "Justice Walker Announces Retirement Effective June 27," April 21, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: West Virginia; Judicial Nominating Commissions," archived January 13, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 National Center for State Courts, "Selection of Judges," accessed August 13, 2021
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate search," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "2016 official general election results," accessed May 3, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing by Office," accessed January 30, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - Primary Election - May 10, 2016," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ Ewing for Senate, "Endorsements," accessed May 3, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Ewing for Senate, "Why I Am Running Statement," accessed May 9, 2016
Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia
State courts:
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia • West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals • West Virginia Circuit Courts • West Virginia Family Courts • West Virginia Magistrate Courts • West Virginia Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in West Virginia • West Virginia judicial elections • Judicial selection in West Virginia
