CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals faced an extraordinary year of change in 2025, with two gubernatorial appointments that altered the court’s composition.

The court operated under the leadership of Chief Justice William R. “Bill” Wooton and maintained a focus on administrative accountability. The year concluded with a significant public health case on religious exemptions to school vaccinations pending before the newly formed court.

As the administrative rotation continues, Justice C. Haley Bunn is set to take the role of chief justice at the start of the 2026 calendar year.

Two mid-term departures and new appointments

The court’s makeup was substantially redefined in the middle of 2025 due to a retirement and a death, triggering the replacement process.

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