U.S.
Dec. 21—There is not a more decent and thoughtful government employee in all of West Virginia than Beckley's own Justice William R. "Bill" Wooton of the Supreme Court of Appeals. Long a student of jurisprudence, politics and business in the Mountain State, Wooton has also stood up for our country, serving more than 30 years in the United States Army Reserve and the West Virginia Army National Guard. This week, Wooton was elected to serve as chief justice of the state's highest court in 2025 — and, frankly, you would be hard-pressed to find a public servant more deserving, qualified or prepared for such a consequential leadership post.
A native of Raleigh County, Wooton was educated in Raleigh County public schools and earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Marshall University and a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law. At WVU Law, he was editor-in-chief of the school's Law Review, was selected to the academic elite via Order of the Coif and graduated at the top of his class.
Wooton worked as a law clerk for Judge John A. Field, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, was an assistant West Virginia attorney general and an assistant Raleigh County prosecutor. He practiced law in Beckley continuously from 1977 through 2020 when he was elected to the state's highest court.
Wooton, too, served in the West Virginia Legislature for 26 years as a Democrat. He served three different stints in the House of Delegates ending in 2010, and was elected House majority leader from 1985 to 1986. He also served in the West Virginia Senate from 1991 through 2002 where he was appointed chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee 10 years.
Wooton's reputation, widely acknowledged and highly acclaimed, precedes him.
In a day and age when too many who seek or hold public office are in it for themselves, who have neither the experience, accomplishments, humility and temperance that would give the public confidence, Wooton stands as an example of what we should hope for in each and every one of our elected officials.
Congratulations to Wooton for the appointment. We look forward to his continued service.
By J. Damon Cain, editor of The Register-Herald
----Thumbs up to West Virginia Division of Highways crews who worked around the clock to keep roads open during the winter storm earlier this week.
The snow kept falling through the night, but most primary routes were in good shape by the time vehicles hit the pavement for work, or doctor's appointments, or other trips.