Willis Named New Senate Judiciary Chair

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Senate leadership has appointed Sen. Tom Willis as the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee ahead of the 2026 legislative session.
The appointment has drawn criticism from groups advocating for lawsuit reform. Greg Thomas, executive director of West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, noted that Willis has received campaign contributions from trial lawyers across the state. Thomas pointed to Willis’s record in the last session, where he sponsored two bills and co-sponsored six others that would have created new causes of action or expanded liability.
“This appointment raises questions about whether Senate leadership will prioritize policies that encourage job growth or those that expand litigation,” Thomas said.
The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) also weighed in, citing its July Legislative HeatCheck report that labeled the Senate Judiciary Committee a “Lawsuit Inferno.” The report criticized the committee for blocking two lawsuit reform bills while sponsoring numerous measures that expanded liability.
Tiger Joyce, president of ATRA, said the committee’s actions have left West Virginians without “meaningful oversight and transparency in how lawsuits are filed.” He added that members sponsored 22 bills last session that would expand liability in the state.
The Senate Judiciary Committee plays a central role in shaping legislation on civil justice and liability issues. Willis’s appointment signals the direction Senate leadership may take as lawmakers prepare for the upcoming session.