The former congressman and current chief justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on the importance of family, public service and laughter
By Jack Houvouras
HQ 112 | WINTER 2021
If you live in Huntington then you undoubtedly know the name Evan Jenkins. The son of Dorothy Jenkins and the late Jack Jenkins, Evan began his legal career at Jenkins Fenstermaker PLLC, the law practice that his grandfather started more than 90 years ago and that his father helped build into one of Huntington’s premier firms.
After practicing law at the firm for five years in the late 1980s, Evan joined the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce as its general counsel and later led the state’s largest physician membership organization, the West Virginia State Medical Association, as executive director for 15 years.
Evan is also known for his years of work as a community volunteer and board member to local nonprofit organizations, including co-founding Lily’s Place, the nationally recognized facility that cares for newborn infants suffering from prenatal drug exposure. However, he is probably best known for his 24 years in public service. He was elected to three terms to both the West Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate in Charleston, and twice to the halls of Congress as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.
On Jan. 1, 2021, Evan embarked upon another chapter in his career of public service when he began his term as chief justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court. He was first appointed to the high court by Gov. Jim Justice, and soon thereafter was elected in November 2018 by the voters of West Virginia.
Evan is part of what many call the “New Court”; he and his four fellow justices have taken bold steps to reform a Court riddled with scandal prior to 2018, including the return of $10 million of unspent funds to the legislature to address taxpayers’ priorities. As chief justice, Evan will present a budget to the legislature this year that is less than what the legislature appropriated to the judiciary six years ago.
“My first priority is rebuilding the public trust that was lost two years ago,” he asserts. “We are in the integrity business. We must have a court system that the public sees as accessible, transparent and without bias.”
Evan and his wife Elizabeth (or as her friends call her, “E.B.”) are the proud parents of three adult children. Their oldest son Evan Jr., “Hollin”, is a first lieutenant in the U.S. Marines flying the CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters; Charles is in his second year at Wake Forest University School of Law; and Olivia is a sophomore at the University of Kentucky studying finance. We caught up with the ever-busy husband, father and, now, chief justice, and challenged him to answer our 20 questions. We were pleased when he didn’t object to any of our queries.
HQ1 How would close friends describe you?
This is the question I think everyone struggles with the most. I would say my friends would say I’m not as ‘formal’ as most people think.
HQ2 What is something few people know about you?
I started first grade at the Marshall Lab School and had just finished second grade when the school closed for good. I struggled with dyslexia growing up, and my parents thought it would be good to repeat second grade at my new school. It was a smart move on my parents’ part, but my kids today sure like saying I failed second grade.
HQ3 What is your fondest childhood memory?
Getting to be a ‘real cowboy’ on a dude ranch near Big Sky, Montana, and visiting Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons on a great family vacation. I was probably 10 or 11 years old, and it was so much fun.
HQ4 What is your greatest regret?
I don’t think about what I would do differently; life is too short. I certainly have no regrets in my years of public service. The voters have given me the incredible opportunity to serve in the legislature and judiciary, in both Charleston and Washington, D.C.
HQ5 What is something you could talk about for hours?
West Virginia history and the inspiring people who led the settlers into the mountains of western Virginia and eventually to our statehood.
HQ6 For the perfect meal, what would be on the menu?
Rocco’s Special Alla Casa.
HQ7 What movie made you laugh the hardest?
I couldn’t stop laughing at Will Ferrell in The Campaign, probably because I’ve experienced a lot of crazy stuff on the campaign trail over the years.
HQ8 Whom is the one person, past or present, you would most like to meet?
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition. Yes, it’s two people, but their discovery of the northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean in the early 1800s is nothing short of amazing.
HQ9 What song moves you the most?
The singing of the National Anthem, with a military flyover, at a huge outdoor stadium event gets me every time.
HQ10 What are three books everyone should read?
My picks are Undaunted Courage by Stephen A. Ambrose; The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, et al., and Scalia Speaks: Reflections on Law, Faith, and Life Well Lived by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
HQ11 If you had a day off from work, what would you do?
Something outdoors. E.B. and I love hiking the trails at Beech Fork Lake or getting into our beehives in the backyard. But usually, I’m just working in the yard trying to keep up with the grass, weeds or leaves, depending on the season.
HQ12 If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’ve been lucky to travel to many parts of the world, but I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon.
HQ13 What irritates you the most?
What irritates me are people who are not considerate and respectful of others in everyday interactions.
HQ14 What scares you the most?
The maintenance record of the old CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters my son flies in the U.S. Marines. They can’t transition to the next-generation King Stallion helicopters soon enough!
HQ15 What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?
Watching my three children grow up.
HQ16 What talent would you like to possess?
How I wish I could play a musical instrument. My mother is a classically trained pianist and teacher, so I have no excuse other than my own stubbornness. If I only knew then what I know now!
HQ17 What do you like most about Huntington?
The miles and miles of path I get to run on in Ritter Park.
HQ18 What is your favorite spot in West Virginia?
The Greenbrier River. I married well because E.B.’s family has owned property on a beautiful stretch of the river for over 40 years. We have so many wonderful memories of summer weekends hiking, canoeing, fishing and sitting by a crackling fire.
HQ19 What brings you the most joy?
Time with family when we can be together under one roof. With one in college, one in law school and our oldest in the military, it’s getting harder and harder to be together. But when we are, it’s very special.
HQ20 How would you like to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as a loving husband and father most importantly, but also as a public servant who respected and honored the public’s trust and the opportunity to serve.
