CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice John Hutchison says he won’t be on the ballot next year. Hutchison was appointed by Gov. Jim Justice in late 2018–took the seat in early 2019 and won an unexpired term election in 2020. He says he’ll serve out his term until the end of 2024 but won’t run in the May election. Hutchison says he made the announcement now to allow potential candidates enough time to get theri campaigns together.
On Thursday, MetroNews Talkline Host Hoppy Kercheval tweeted that 15th District State Senator Charles S. Trump IV (R – Morgan County) has announced his intention to run for that seat.
Senator Trump has served in District 15 since December of 2014. His current term ends on December 1, 2026.
He won re-election to the state senate on November 8, 2022.
Trump also served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1992 to 2006, according to Ballotpedia.
Judicial elections don’t have primaries in West Virginia, so the May 2024 election is final.
Justice Hutchison has had a long career, having been appointed as a circuit judge in Raleigh County in 1995 until the Supreme Court appointment.
He says he would like to be a senior status judge and possibly do some mediation after his time on the High Court.