Gerald M. Titus III
Gerald M. Titus III is a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. He assumed office on November 21, 2025. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Titus is running in a special election for judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. He declared candidacy for the special 2026 election.[source]
Patrick Morrisey (R) appointed Titus to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on November 21, 2025, to replace Tim Armstead (Nonpartisan).[1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Elections
2026
See also: West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals elections, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on May 12, 2026.
Special general election for Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Incumbent Gerald M. Titus III (Nonpartisan), Todd Kirby (Nonpartisan), and Harry L. Kirkpatrick (Nonpartisan) are running in the special general election for Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on May 12, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Gerald M. Titus III (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Todd Kirby (Nonpartisan) | |
| Harry L. Kirkpatrick (Nonpartisan) | ||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
Appointments
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (2025-present)
Governor Patrick Morrisey (R) appointed Gerald M. Titus III to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on November 21, 2025.[2] Titus replaced Justice Tim Armstead, who died on August 26, 2025.[3] Titus was Gov. Morrisey's second nominee to the five-member supreme court.
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.[5] 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.
External links
See also
2026 Elections
Footnotes
- ↑ West Virginia Office of the Governor Patrick Morrisey, "Governor Patrick Morrisey Appoints Gerald Titus to West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals," November 21, 2025
- ↑ Governor of West Virginia - Patrick Morrisey, "Governor Patrick Morrisey Appoints Gerald Titus to West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals," November 21, 2025
- ↑ WCHS ABC8, "West Virginia Supreme Court justice, longtime lawmaker Tim Armstead has died," August 27, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 National Center for State Courts, "Selection of Judges," accessed August 13, 2021
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: West Virginia; Judicial Nominating Commissions," archived January 13, 2012
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
