She replaces 11th Judicial Circuit Judge James J. Rowe, who retired Feb. 29. Tabit said she was very honored to be chosen to fill Rowe’s seat.
“I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” she said. “I am so excited about getting business cases and I’m looking forward to the work.”
Tabit said being chosen to replace Rowe gave her a lot of confidence because Rowe is an impressive judge.
“He’s an amazing judge and I’m flattered to be chosen to take over since his retirement,” she said.
The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals announced March 8 that Tabit had been appointed to the state Business Court Division. Her appointment was effective March 1. Her term ends Oct. 9, 2019.
“Judge Tabit brings extensive knowledge and experience litigating commercial disputes which will assist greatly in the Division’s goal of providing efficient and just resolution of complex legal claims between businesses,” said Christopher C. Wilkes, Division Chairman and 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge, in a press release. “I thank Chief Justice (Menis) Ketchum for this appointment to the panel.”
Wilkes also said he wanted to thank Rowe for the valuable time and effort he gave not only as a Division Judge but also on the committee that formulated the Division.
The Business Court is a division within West Virginia’s Judiciary designed to handle complex commercial litigation between businesses.
Trial Court Rule 29.02 calls for the Business Court Division to consist of up to seven active or senior status circuit court judges appointed by the chief justice, with the approval of the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Each appointment is for a term of seven years. Three judges were appointed in 2012 when the Division was founded, and another four have been added as the Division’s workload has increased.
Their terms are staggered, and there is no prohibition against serving successive terms, either as judge or as Chairman of the Division.
The other Business Court Division judges are 22nd Judicial Circuit Judge H. Charles Carl III; 17th Judicial Circuit Judge Russell M. Clawges Jr.; Fifth Judicial Circuit Judge Thomas C. Evans III; Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Paul T. Farrell; and 24th Judicial Circuit Judge James H. Young Jr.
Tabit is native of Charleston. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Marshall University in 1983 and a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law in 1986.
She began her legal career in 1986 as a personal law clerk to former Supreme Court Justice Thomas E. McHugh. She also served as an Assistant and then Deputy Attorney General of the Appellate Division in the Office of the Attorney General from 1989 to 1992 under the administrations of Attorneys General Roger Tompkins and Mario Palumbo.
In 1992, Judge Tabit joined the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson, where she was a member attorney until October 2014, when she was appointed to the bench by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.
Tabit also has worked as an Adjunct Lecturer teaching Summer Appellate Advocacy at West Virginia University College of Law.
She has served as Co-Chairman of the Campaign for Legal Aid of West Virginia; served on the Board of Directors for the YWCA of Charleston; been chairwoman of the Access to Justice Foundation; served as a member of Board of Governors of the West Virginia State Bar; and served as a Commissioner on the City of Charleston Human Rights Commission. Judge Tabit currently is a member of the Juvenile Justice Commission.
