Public servant, not politician: Friends remember Supreme Court Justice Tim Armstead

Armstead died Tuesday, but his legacy as an honest leader who tried to improve the state during tumultuous moments inspires those trying to follow his example.

A spokesperson for the Supreme Court said Armstead, 60, had been receiving cancer treatments for a little over a year. Last week, in his immunocompromised state, he contracted an infection that led to his death.

Armstead was born in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä and graduated from Braxton County High School. He went on to graduate from the University of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä and West Virginia University College of Law.

Armstead was appointed by Gov. Cecil Underwood to the House of Delegates in 1998 to fill a vacancy. He continued to serve in the West Virginia Legislature until 2018, when Gov. Jim Justice appointed him to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Building consensus

While in the Legislature, Armstead, a Republican, was minority leader and, eventually, speaker of the House of Delegates in 2015, when the majority flipped to Republican for the first time since the Great Depression.

Former Delegate Brent Boggs, D-Braxton, attended high school with Armstead’s older brother and worked with Armstead in the Legislature, specifically when Armstead was the minority leader and Boggs was the majority leader.

Although they were in different parties, some of Boggs’ favorite memories with Armstead were when the two found a quiet space at the Capitol to talk and build consensus.

"We probably disagreed on things very seldom. We were both conservative, we just happened to be in a different party,� said Boggs, now a Braxton County commissioner.

The two would talk about their families, common friends, problems and their faith, “just things like that that you would talk about with one of your best friends� before getting to the “meat and potatoes issues,� Boggs said.

Supreme Court appointment

In 2018, following the impeachments of four Supreme Court justices in the House of Delegates, Justice appointed Armstead to the Supreme Court, including as chief justice in both 2020 and 2024. When he was first appointed, he served on the bench with justices he'd voted to impeach while he was speaker of the House.

While on the court, Armstead helped protect the interests of people who couldn’t protect their own interest, Thompson said. After Armstead was appointed to the Supreme Court, he worked closely with Thompson, who was a circuit court judge for Boone and Lincoln counties.

Armstead was a proponent of treatment courts, including the family treatment court started by Thompson. He would often attend treatment court graduations, Thompson said. Armstead also helped expand family treatment courts across the state.

Concerned by the lack of attorneys that could be appointed to children or other helpless individuals as guardians ad litem, Armstead also worked to expand training in that area for attorneys and encouraged them to become guardians ad litem.

"I  think that just shows what type of person he was,� Thompson said. “He was out there trying to protect the interests of the people who couldn't protect their own interest.�

According to a news release from the Supreme Court, Armstead appointed an eight-member advisory committee to propose revisions to the Code of Judicial Conduct. That committee will bring its recommendations to the full Supreme Court for review later this year.

Thompson said he thinks Armstead’s legacy will be how he transformed the Supreme Court after the impeachments in 2018.

"He really came onto the court with the agenda that he wanted to restore the public's trust and confidence in the Supreme Court, and he did that,� Thompson said.

Elkview leader

While known for his public service, Armstead also was a committed member of the Elkview community, where he lived.

After the 2016 flood, which devastated much of Armstead’s district, Armstead sponsored the creation of the Legislature’s Joint Legislative Committee on Flooding to investigate and propose reforms to mitigate flood damage and improve disaster response.

Boggs, who co-sponsored the legislation with Armstead and other delegates, said he thinks the effort laid “a good groundwork.�

"I don't think that it has fully been utilized as much as it could,� Boggs said. “And I think that he probably would like to see things move a little more quickly.�

Mike Kelly, principal of Herbert Hoover High School in Elkview, said Armstead was “everywhere� to help after the flood.

“Even though they had flood damage in their own home, he was always out looking to help other people,� Kelly said.

Armstead also pushed for an investigation into the state’s flood recovery program and for speedy reopening of the affected schools. Herbert Hoover High School did not open until fall 2023, and Clendenin Elementary opened in fall 2024.

Armstead would invite Kelly to the Capitol to discuss education issues and brought principals affected by the flooding to the State of the State address.

"I think gestures like that made people in our community realize that they weren't alone and that they weren't given up on,� Kelly said.

A public servant

Armstead is an example to other elected officials, Kanawha County Commissioner Lance Wheeler said. Wheeler, who called Armstead a mentor and friend, met him in 2013 when Wheeler first entered politics.

"I think people gravitated to him because they saw the honesty and the true person as an elected representative in Tim Armstead,� Wheeler said.

Wheeler said Armstead led with integrity, compassion and dedication to his constituents.

" Unfortunately, I don't think we're ever going to find a man with those values ever again,� he said.

Boggs said Armstead was different from legislators today, and that going to the Supreme Court was “a breath of fresh air� for him.

"I think both of us cherished and loved our legislative service, but I also think that the divisiveness and just harsh rhetoric and things like that — that's not Tim. That's not me,� Boggs said.

Armstead wasn’t a politician, Boggs said. He was a public servant.

"I just don't want people that have the same values as Tim in the same category as politics. It's more public service,� Boggs said. “And he was a public servant from his first day at the Capitol until his passing.�

Kelly said Armstead was a “true leader.�

“[He was] just one of the really, true good guys, and did things, in my opinion, for the right reasons,� he said.

Armstead is survived by his wife, Anna, their daughter, Katie, and her husband, Aaron Ferrari, and two grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced. Visit wvgazettemail.com for updates.