Judge W.E. Sam Fox, II was appointed on Nov. 12, 2025, by Gov. Patrick Morrisey to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Fayette County). He filled the seat previously held by Thomas H. Ewing, whom the governor appointed to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Judge Fox was sworn into office on Dec. 4, 2025.

In addition to his other duties, Judge Fox presides over the Fayette County Family Treatment Court and the Fayette County Adult Treatment Court.

Judge Fox is the first Oak Hill native to serve as a Fayette County Circuit Court judge in more than 100 years. He graduated from Oak Hill High School (1982) and has a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in education and government (1986) and a law degree from West Virginia University (1989). In law school he was on the Moot Court Board, served in the clinic program and was class president. During breaks in law school, he worked as a substitute teacher in Fayette County. At West Virginia Wesleyan College, he was captain of the tennis team and a conference tournament finalist. He is a member of the West Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees.

Judge Fox practiced law for 36 years with the firms of Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso, PLLC, (1991-2025) and Kay Casto and Chaney (1989-1991). He was recognized by his peers in Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year in Health Care Law (2022, Charleston, WV) and recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2017-2025) in the fields of medical malpractice defense and health care law. He was also recognized in Super Lawyers (2017-2025), which is an honor awarded to only 5 percent of all attorneys.

He is married to Christine H. Fox, and they are members of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Oak Hill. They have two adult children.