Thomas McHugh (judge)

{{Short description|American judge (1936–2025)}}

Thomas Edward McHugh (March 26, 1936 – January 14, 2025) was an American jurist who served on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.[http://www.state.wv.us/wvsca/McHugh.htm Thomas E. McHugh biography], Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia In 1980 and 1992, McHugh was elected as a Democrat to full, twelve-year terms on the Court. He however retired on December 31, 1997, with 7 years remaining on his term, and resumed the practice of law in Charleston.

On September 10, 2008, then-Chief Justice Eliot E. "Spike" Maynard named McHugh to temporarily replace Justice Joseph P. Albright. Justice Albright had taken medical leave after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Justice Albright died on March 20, 2009.[http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/514090.html?nav=515 Wheeling Intelligencer][http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200903210157 Charleston Gazette] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426080210/http://wvgazette.com/News/200903210157 |date=2009-04-26 }} On April 8, 2009, then Governor Joe Manchin appointed Justice McHugh to Justice Albright's vacant seat. Under Article 8, Section 2 of the West Virginia Constitution, McHugh's appointment was limited until the next, regular election (2010), which McHugh won. He pledged to not run for the full term in 2012 and left the court in January 2013.

McHugh died on January 14, 2025, at the age of 88.{{cite news |title=Former West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Thomas McHugh dies at 88 |url=https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-supreme-court-justice-thomas-mchugh-28ff1242594e155212e6655912b96bcc |access-date=15 January 2025 |publisher=Associated Press |date=14 January 2025}}