WV Supreme Court Justice, former Speaker of the House Tim Armstead dead at 60

by Caity Coyne, West Virginia Watch
August 26, 2025

West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Tim Armstead died on Tuesday after a brief hospitalization in Morgantown, according to statements from the state Supreme Court of Appeals and multiple elected officials.

Armstead, 60, had been battling a cancer diagnosis for a year prior to his death, according to a spokesperson with the state Supreme Court.

A Kanawha County native, Armstead was appointed to the state’s highest court in 2018 by former Gov. Jim Justice. He won an election that year to serve the remainder of that term. In 2020, he won an election to serve a full 12-year term on the bench. In 2020 and 2024, Armstead sat as chief justice for the state’s Supreme Court of Appeals.

“Tim Armstead is a sterling example of the best of West Virginia,” said state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Wooton in an emailed statement. “In an all-to-short life his public service accomplishments are legendary … His abilities, talents and character were recognized by his colleagues, his neighbors and his fellow West Virginians.”

Armstead began his public service career in 1985 when he worked as a press intern for then-Gov. Arch Moore. Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, he worked in a variety of governmental positions. 

In 1998, he was appointed to serve in the state House of Delegates, where he won 10 consecutive elections to retain his seat. In 2006, when Democrats controlled the Legislature, Armstead became minority leader of the Republican caucus in the House, a position previously held by now-Supreme Court Justice Charlie Trump. 

From 2015 until joining the Supreme Court, Armstead served as House speaker following Republicans taking over legislative control in 2014. He was the first Republican speaker of the House in 83 years.

In a statement Tuesday, Trump said his former legislative and judicial colleague’s work “reflected his great integrity and love for West Virginia and her people. His leadership will be sorely missed here at the Court.”

As a lawmaker, Armstead was known as a fiscal conservative. While in legislative leadership, he oversaw the passage of numerous bills that have become instrumental in the state’s political landscape, including right-to-work and tort reform for the state’s legal system. 

He was also a staunch supporter of increased transparency and accountability in government. Under his leadership in 2016, the state House passed a bundle of ethics reform bills that gained near-unanimous support from members of both political parties. 

In the courts, Armstead continued his fiscally conservative ideals; in 2020, while serving as chief justice, he proposed cutting the state’s highest court’s budget by nearly $4 million to ensure “that the judiciary’s budget sets the right priorities and spends the taxpayers’ hard-earned money more efficiently.” 

This was just two years after every sitting member of the state Supreme Court of Appeals faced articles of impeachment from the House due to “unnecessary and lavish” spending of state taxpayer dollars to renovate their offices, among other charges. A temporary state Supreme Court later stopped those impeachment proceedings from continuing.

In his last few years on the Supreme Court, Armstead spent time trying to recruit more attorneys to provide guardian ad litem services to children in abuse and neglect cases throughout the state. He started partnerships with numerous organizations to try and encourage law students and other attorneys to take on the cases.

Armstead was heavily involved in his home community of Elkview, advocating for legislation to help the region after tragic flooding hit in 2016 and starting new law education programs for students at Herbert Hoover High School. 

He is survived by his wife, Anna, their daughter, Katie, and two grandchildren. 

Elected leaders mourn Armstead, reflect on his legacy

When news broke of Armstead’s death on Tuesday, memorials rolled in from elected officials throughout West Virginia government. They remarked on his life while sharing heartfelt condolences for the family he leaves behind.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey called him an “incredible trailblazer” as well as “a good and decent man who always tried to set the right ethical tone in all of his actions.”

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw — who succeeded Armstead in the House’s highest position and who worked with him for several years in the Legislature — said West Virginia lost a “very wonderful person” with Armstead’s death while he personally lost a “wonderful friend.”

Hanshaw, R-Clay, said Armstead was a man of “infectious optimism.”

“He saw the good in everything and everybody — good that was too often hard for others, including me, to see. I always admired his near-total ability to forgive and forget, even when others — again, including me — didn’t want him to,” Hanshaw said. 

“I will miss Tim Armstead,” he continued. “I will miss the wise counsel he often gave me in times of tough decisions. I will miss the lighthearted jokes he told me when I visited his chambers after a long day on the House floor, and I will miss that no matter whatever else I encountered in my career, I could always take comfort knowing there was a man at the highest levels of service to our society who was guided by nothing more than a sincere desire to do the right thing. Most of all, I will miss my friend.”

Senate President Randy Smith, who first served with Armstead in the House in 2013, said Armstead “set an example of honesty, integrity, faith and service that was second to none.”

“All who were blessed to call him a friend and colleague are better people because of him,” Smith continued. “My heart is with his family during their time of grief, and I pray they find comfort in our Lord’s arms.”

West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Del. Mike Pushkin called Armstead a “dedicated public servant.” Pushkin, D-Kanawha, served in the minority party under Armstead while he was speaker.

“[Armstead] was a man of deep faith, strong convictions and quiet dignity. As Speaker, he worked hard to foster an environment of collegiality and respect,” Pushkin said. “He viewed public service as a high honor, and his example reflected that commitment.”

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va, said Armstead was a “dear friend” and “a compassionate, strong, and loyal leader.” She said she will “always treasure his friendship and the example he set.”

U.S. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., called Armstead “a thoughtful, steady presence” in both the Supreme Court and as Speaker of the West Virginia House.

“Above all, he cared deeply about West Virginia and our people,” Justice continued.

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West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.