Hon. Thomas E. Scarr (Ret.)

Now retired from the bench, Judge Thomas E. Scarr brings over four decades of litigation and appellate experience to his work as a mediator, arbitrator, and neutral. He recently completed his term as Chief Judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia, where he served from the Court’s inception in 2022 through the end of 2024. During his tenure, he authored numerous published decisions and helped establish the Court’s early jurisprudential legacy.

Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Scarr built a distinguished trial and appellate practice across West Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic. Throughout his career, he has tried more than 40 jury trials, handled complex commercial, construction, employment, and toxic tort matters, and represented clients in both state and federal courts. He served as Litigation Section Leader and Marketing Committee Chair at Jenkins Fenstermaker, PLLC, and earlier was a partner at Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love.

Judge Scarr has long been recognized as a leader in the legal profession. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell (since 1996), and has been consistently listed in Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and Super Lawyers. He served as President of the West Virginia State Bar (2021–22) and is trained in both basic and advanced mediation techniques approved by the State Bar.

SELECTED PANELS & PRESENTATIONS

Judicial Leadership & Reform

Speaker, Creation and Operation of the Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia (multiple forums, 2022–present)

Panelist, Elected vs. Appointed Judges: How Judges Are Chosen – Hampden-Sydney College Bar Association (2022)

Co-Presenter, Maintaining Civility in the Practice of Law – WV State Bar Regional Meeting (2021)

Litigation & Discovery Practice
Faculty, Discovery Reform and the New Federal Rules – WV CLE (2016)

Presenter, Deposition Practice – Cabell County Bar Annual Seminar (1995)

Faculty, Effective Motion Practice in WV – Lorman Education (1993)

Instructor, Litigation Training Program – Bowles Rice (1991–1992)

Employment & HR Law

Faculty, HR Essentials – WV Chamber of Commerce / SHRM HR Summit (2007)

Lecturer, FMLA Analysis for HR Directors – Charleston HR Forum (1993)

Speaker, Employment Law & Document Management – SHRM WV (2000–2001)

Medical & Legal Ethics

Panelist, Professionalism from the Bench and Bar – WV CLE (1996)

Guest Lecturer, Risk Management for Nurse Practitioners – University of Arizona (2002–2004)

CLE Instructor, Privileges and Evidentiary Protections (multiple years)