William S. Thompson

William S. Thompson
United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia
In office
October 13, 2021 – March 3, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Donald Trump
Preceded byMichael B. Stuart
Lisa G. Johnston (acting)
Succeeded byMoore Capito
Judge of the 25th Judicial Circuit of West Virginia
In office
March 6, 2007 – August 18, 2021
Appointed byJoe Manchin
Preceded byE. Lee Schlaegel Jr.
Succeeded byStacy L. Nowicki-Eldridge
Personal details
BornWilliam Stewart Thompson
1969 (age 56–57)
Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
SpouseKeri Thompson
Children4
EducationWest Virginia University (BSE, JD)

William Stewart Thompson (born 1969)[1] is an American attorney, judge, and academic administrator. He was the United States attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia from 2021 to 2025. From 2007 to 2021, he served as a judge on the 25th Judicial Circuit of West Virginia. Grundy is currently serving as the dean of students at Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia, as well as counsel at Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC in Charleston, West Virginia.[2][3]

Early life and education

Thompson was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He graduated as salutatorian from Scott High School.[4] received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the West Virginia University in 1992 and his Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1995.[5][4]

Career

In 1992, Thompson was a civil engineer for American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio;[4] he also served as president of Madison Healthcare, Incorporated from 1997 to 2007, and as vice president of Danville Lumber Company from 1994 to 2007. He was an associate at the law firm of Cook and Cook in Madison, West Virginia from 1995 to 2007. His primary focus was litigation, which included representing several hundred indigent clients in criminal defense and other matters.[5]

25th Judicial Circuit Judge

From 2007 to 2021, he served as a judge for the 25th Judicial Circuit of West Virginia after being appointed by West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin,[4] to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge E. Lee Schlaegel Jr. He was sworn in on March 6, 2007.[6] While on the bench, Thompson gained a national reputation for presiding over several treatment courts, including the state’s first family treatment court.[7] He was re-elected in 2008 and 2016.[5] He resigned effective August 18, 2021, after being nominated as U.S. Attorney.[8][9]

U.S. Attorney

On August 10, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Thompson to be the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.[10] On September 30, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote.[11] On October 5, 2021, his nomination was confirmed in the United States Senate by voice vote.[12] On October 13, 2021, he was sworn in by Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston in a private ceremony.[13]

Post U.S. Attorney career

In May 2025, Thompson became dean of students Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia.[14] There he also holds the position of visiting professor, teaching constitutional law and appellate advocacy. Outside of teaching, he serves as counsel for Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC in their Charleston, West Virginia, office, where he primarily practices litigation, with an emphasis on alternative dispute resolution and white collar criminal defense.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees" (PDF). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Faculty Archive". Appalachian School of Law. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  3. ↑ Fridley, Tiffany (2025-05-16). "Thompson, William S." Spilman Thomas & Battle. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "WV Judicial System Judges: Judge William S. Thompson". www.courtswv.gov. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 "President Biden Announces Eight New Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ↑ "Swearing-In Ceremony for Judge Thompson" (Press release). March 1, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  7. ↑ "West Virginia drug court judge determined to rebuild community one life at a time". NBC News. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  8. ↑ "Boone/Lincoln Circuit Judge Appointed U.S. Attorney" (PDF). West Virginia Judiciary. August 12, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ WVMetroNews (August 19, 2021). "Clawges assigned to replace Thompson in Boone circuit until new judge named". WV MetroNews. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Nominations Sent to the Senate" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. August 11, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate of U.S. Attorney Nominations" (Press release). United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. September 30, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  12. ↑ "PN1037 - Nomination of William S. Thompson for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  13. ↑ "William S. Thompson Sworn In as United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia". www.justice.gov. October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  14. ↑ cmaynard@hdmediallc.com, CAMERON MAYNARD (2025-05-22). "Madison native named Dean of Students at Appalachian School of Law". The Coal Valley News. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  15. ↑ Fridley, Tiffany (2025-05-19). "Former U.S. Attorney Thompson Joins Spilman". Spilman Thomas & Battle. Retrieved 2026-06-26.



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