CHARLESTON -- With is wife Judy by his side, longtime Huntington attorney Menis Ketchum was sworn in as the 76th justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia during a ceremony in Charleston on Thursday.

It was standing-room-only in the chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals as more than 100 of his closest friends, family and colleagues gathered to celebrate with Ketchum.

Though he spoke little during the ceremony, Ketchum did attribute his success in the Nov. 4 election and in his career to his wife. Without her, he said, he would not have been elected.

Following the ceremony, Ketchum still seemed surprised about his election and was delighted to serve on the highest court in the state.

"I'm thrilled to death," he said. "I never thought I had much of a chance when I started more than a year ago."

Among the guests attending the ceremony were Delegate Jim Morgan, D-Cabell, Sen. Bob Plymale, D-Wayne, and Speaker Richard Thompson, D-Wayne. Thompson, a longtime friend and fellow attorney, spoke during the ceremony and said he was honored to be able to take part in the once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Working with him for so many years, Thompson said he's confident Ketchum will be great on the bench.

"He'll bring an absolute dedication to the principles of law, fairness and equality. Whatever Menis is working on, as you can see from his campaign, he gives it everything he has."

Thompson added, "When he's a justice and has a case before him, he will work just as hard, learn the facts of the case and render a true and just decision."

Gov. Joe Manchin also attended the ceremony and spoke of Ketchum's unwavering dedication to the law. Manchin described the sentiments of many in attendance by saying "Godspeed, my friend" before shaking the new justice's hand.

Plymale said he was proud to see a fellow Wayne County resident make it to the prestigious position. While Ketchum traveled the state campaigning, Plymale said the new justice represented the best Cabell and Wayne County had to offer.

"You can see what he carries and exemplifies from our area into a statewide basis," Plymale said "(Thursday's ceremony) marks what a true family man he is, and that is the way he ran his campaign."

"No wonder he was elected," Plymale said.

Ketchum, who officially takes office Jan. 1, is ready to get started.

"I'm excited about getting onto the court and letting all West Virginians know they will get a fair shake," he said.

Ketchum was elected to a 12-year term on the Supreme Court of Appeals in the Nov. 4 general election.

Ketchum will take office following the controversy with Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard. The controversy started when photos surfaced earlier in 2008 showing Maynard and Massey Energy Chief Executive Officer Don Blankenship spending time together while they were vacationing in France.

The photos came to light after Maynard helped reverse a $76 million verdict against Massey for stealing coal contracts from smaller companies and putting them out of business.

With his election to the court, Ketchum said "What I really want to do on the court is bring help and become very judicial without controversy and dispense fair and even-handed justice for everyone."

Ketchum, a Democrat, was the top vote-getter in the Nov. 4 election with 353,293 votes followed by Democrat Margaret Workman with 333,254 votes. The lone Republican in the race, Elizabeth Walker, received 327,084 votes.

Workman, who also attended the ceremony, plans to take her oath on Dec. 29.

Ketchum received his law degree from West Virginia University Law School in 1967 before returning to Huntington to join his father with the firm of Greene, Ketchum & Baker.

Workman also will take office on Jan. 1.

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Menis Ketchum, left, is sworn in as a West Virginia Supreme Court Justice by Judge Michael Thornsbury, right, as his wife Judy Ketchum holds the Bible in the West Virginia Supreme Court chambers at the state capitol in Charleston, W.Va. Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Bob Bird)

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