Thomas Ewing
CHARLESTON – Tom Ewing is moving on up … to the state Supreme Court of Appeals.
Ewing, who has served as a circuit court judge in Fayette County, was appointed August 6 by Gov. Patrick Morrisey to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by Justice Beth Walker’s retirement earlier this summer.
Ewing will begin his new job immediately. Morrisey now will be tasked with appointing Ewing’s replacement on the circuit court.
“I didn’t know Judge Ewing very well before this process,” Morrisey said in announcing Ewing’s appointment. “But through the interview process, he really blew me away.”
“He shows careful consideration of the issues he’s asked to rule upon. He cares deeply about the people of West Virginia.
Last month, the state Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission submitted a short list of four names to fill a vacant state to Morrisey. The other three recommendations were Fayette Circuit Judge Thomas Ewing, Raleigh Circuit Judge Todd Kirby and Shawn Morgan, who is managing partner of Steptoe & Johnson’s Bridgeport office.
The JVAC interviewed 14 applicants July 17. Fifteen people had applied for the position created by last month’s retirement of Justice Beth Walker. One applicant – Eastern Panhandle Circuit Judge R. Steven Redding – withdrew his name and was not interviewed.
Ewing took office as a circuit judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Fayette County) on Jan. 2, 2019, after being appointed by Gov. Jim Justice on Dec. 7, 2018. He was elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024.
Ewing, a native of Fayette County, grew up in Hico and graduated from Midland Trail High School. He has bachelor’s degrees in education and history from Glenville State College and a 2004 law degree from West Virginia University. At Glenville State, he was a four-year member and captain of the men’s basketball team.
Ewing was an attorney with the law firm of Kay, Casto & Chaney from 2004 until his appointment to the bench in 2018 and was the managing member of its Fayetteville office from 2015 to 2018.
As circuit judge, Ewing presided over the Fayette County Adult Treatment Court and started and presided over the Fayette County Family Treatment Court, the Fayette County Teen Court, and the Fayette County Truancy Diversion Program. Ewing had served as a commissioner on West Virginia’s Juvenile Justice Commission since 2019. He was recently recognized as a 2025 West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow and as a 2025 Champion of Children by Just for Kids, Inc.
He is a current member of the West Virginia Judicial Association Executive Committee (Treasurer) and is active in the association’s Education and Law Clerk Education Committees. Prior to and during his time as judge, he has coached youth sports. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Midland Trail Community Center, Inc., and attends Grace Baptist Church in Fayetteville. He is married to Mindy Ewing, and they have four children and two grandchildren.
