View source for Biography:Jim Justice

{{short description|36th Governor of West Virginia}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name        = Jim Justice
|image       = Jim Justice 2017 InaugurationHighlights PB-63 (32366955776) (cropped).jpg
|office      = 36th Governor of West Virginia
|term_start  = January 16, 2017
|term_end    = 
|predecessor = Earl Ray Tomblin
|successor   = 
|birth_name  = James Conley Justice II
|birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1951|4|27}}
|birth_place = Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
|death_date  = 
|death_place = 
|party       = Republican (before 2015, 2017–present)<br>Democratic (2015–2017)
|spouse      = {{marriage|Cathy Comer|1975}}
|children    = 2
|residence   = Governor's Mansion (official)
|net_worth   = {{increase}}{{wipe|United States dollar}}1.6 billion (2017)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/jim-justice-ii/ |title=Jim Justice, II. |accessdate=April 5, 2018}}</ref>
|education   = [[Organization:University of Tennessee|University of Tennessee]]<br>[[Organization:Marshall University|Marshall University]] (BA, [[Social:Master of Business Administration|MBA]])
|website     = {{url|governor.wv.gov|Government website}}
}}

'''James Conley Justice II''' (born April 27, 1951) is an American coal mining and agriculture businessman and politician serving as the 36th Governor of West Virginia since 2017. With a net worth of around $1.9 billion, he is the wealthiest person in West Virginia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/jim-justice-ii/ |title=Jim Justice, II. |work=Forbes |access-date=September 2, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> He inherited a coal mining business from his father and built a business empire with over 50 companies, including The Greenbrier, a luxury resort. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2015/01/13/photo-gallery-west-virginia-coasts-to-blowout/a/ |title=A West Virginia dancer performs during the first half at the WVU Coliseum. |date=January 14, 2015|website=WV MetroNews |accessdate=May 14, 2017}}</ref>

In 2015, Justice announced his candidacy for governor in the 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election. Although Justice was a registered Republican before running for governor, he ran as a Democrat and defeated the Republican nominee, Bill Cole. Less than seven months after taking office, Justice switched back to the Republican Party after announcing his plans at a rally with U.S. President Donald Trump in the state.

==Early life==
James Conley Justice II was born in Charleston, the son of James Conley Justice and Edna Ruth (née Perry) Justice. Justice grew up in Raleigh County, West Virginia. He enrolled at the [[Organization:University of Tennessee|University of Tennessee]] on an [[Social:Athletic scholarship|athletic scholarship]] for golf, but transferred to [[Organization:Marshall University|Marshall University]]. At Marshall, he was a two-year captain on the Thundering Herd golf team.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Houvouras|first=Jack|date=Winter 2010|title=HQ&A with Jim Justice |url=http://www.huntingtonquarterly.com/articles/issue72/hqa.php|journal=Huntington Quarterly|location=Huntington, WV|publisher=HQ Publishing|accessdate=May 1, 2016}}</ref> He earned his bachelor's degree and Master in Business Administration from Marshall.<ref name=wapo>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/wva-billionaire-jim-justices-mission-to-restore-the-greenbrier-resort/2011/02/09/AB5NO5M_story.html|title=W.Va. billionaire Jim Justice's mission to restore the Greenbrier resort|work=Washington Post|first=Neely|last=Tucker|date=March 6, 2011|accessdate=July 4, 2015}}</ref>

==Business career==
After college, Justice went into the family agriculture business.<ref name=wapo/> Justice founded Bluestone Farms in 1977, which now operates {{convert|50,000|acre}} of farmland, and is the leading producer of grain on the East Coast of the United States. During that time, he also developed Stoney Brook Plantation, a 15,000-acre hunting and fishing preserve in Monroe County. Justice is a seven time national corn growing champion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151104/GZ01/151109764/1419|title=Justice stresses big ideas over specifics in campaign |last=Gutman|first=David|website=Charleston Gazette-Mail|accessdate=January 12, 2016}}</ref>

After the death of his father in 1993, Justice inherited ownership of Bluestone Industries and Bluestone Coal Corporation.

In 2009, he sold some of his coal business to the Russian company [[Company:Mechel|Mechel]] for $568 million. In 2015, after a huge drop in the price of coal which led Mechel to close some of the mines, he bought the business back for just $5 million.<ref name="wv" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-01-10/can-west-virginia-s-new-governor-save-coal-country|title=Can West Virginia's New Governor Save Coal Country?|last=Barrett|first=Paul|date=January 10, 2017|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=August 4, 2017}}</ref> Since buying back the mine from Mechel, Justice re-opened several of the mines and hired over 200 coal miners.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Justice to put 200 miners back to work|url=http://www.timeswv.com/news/justice-to-put-miners-back-to-work/article_5250c5de-13d7-11e5-8b82-fb371a724c0f.html|website=Times West Virginian|accessdate=January 12, 2016}}</ref>

Justice's mining companies have a history of safety violation and unpaid taxes; in 2016, ''NPR'' called him the "top mine safety delinquent" in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/10/07/496696292/billionaire-gubernatorial-candidate-owes-15-million-in-taxes-and-fines|title=Billionaire Gubernatorial Candidate Owes $15 Million In Taxes And Fines|last=Berkes |first=Howard|website=NPR.org|access-date=August 3, 2017}}</ref>

Justice owes millions of dollars to the government in back taxes, and unpaid coal mining fees and fines: "His mining companies owe $15 million in six states, including property and minerals taxes, state coal severance and withholding taxes, and federal income, excise and unemployment taxes, as well as mine safety penalties, according to county, state and federal records."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/10/07/496696292/billionaire-gubernatorial-candidate-owes-15-million-in-taxes-and-fines|title=Billionaire Gubernatorial Candidate Owes $15 Million In Taxes And Fines|publisher=|accessdate=April 5, 2018}}</ref>

Justice serves as the owner or [[Social:Chief executive officer|chief executive officer]] of over 50 companies, including The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, which he bought for $20.5&nbsp;million in 2009, preventing its [[Finance:Bankruptcy|bankruptcy]].<ref name="wv">{{cite web |url=http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20150511/GZ01/150519885?hootPostID=abd4e9a79a984c6f9e8b1befd5519cd8|title=Greenbrier owner Jim Justice enters governor's race|work=The Charleston Gazette|last=Eyre|first=Eric|date=May 11, 2015|accessdate=June 30, 2015}}</ref>  When Justice first took control he immediately brought back all 650 laid-off employees. He added vacation and health benefits to their contracts and offered a 10 percent raise if the hotel regained its fifth star.<ref name="greenbrier">{{Cite news|title=W.Va. billionaire Jim Justice's mission to restore the Greenbrier resort|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/wva-billionaire-jim-justices-mission-to-restore-the-greenbrier-resort/2011/02/09/AB5NO5M_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 9, 2011|accessdate=November 11, 2016|issn=0190-8286|first=Neely|last=Tucker}}</ref>

Justice is in the process of building a new mountain top golf course with golfers Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Lee Trevino. Arnold Palmer was involved before his 2016 death.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Justice lures golf legends to build mountaintop course near Greenbrier |url=http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20150621/GZ02/150629839/2003120916#sthash.elNd4DYo.dpuf |website=Charleston Gazette-Mail|accessdate=January 12, 2016}}</ref>

{{wipe|Forbes}} estimates Justice's net worth at $1.6&nbsp;billion.<ref name="saints">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/saints/2014/07/24/new-orleans-saints-training-camp-jim-justice/13134225/ |title=Billionaire Jim Justice gives Saints lavish training camp|first=Jim|last=Corbett|date=July 24, 2014|work=USA Today |accessdate=June 30, 2015}}</ref>

As of 2014, he owned 70 active mines in 5 states. His charitable activities have included $25 million for the James C. Justice National Scout Camp at The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, $5 million for [[Organization:Marshall University|Marshall University]], and $10 million to the Cleveland Clinic.<ref name="NPR">{{cite news|last=Berkes|first=Howard|last2=Boiko-Weyrauch|first2=Anna|last3=Benincasa |first3=Robert|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/11/15/363024382/billionaire-spent-millions-in-charity-but-avoided-mine-fines |title=Billionaire Spent Millions In Charity, But Avoided Mine Fines|work=NPR|date=November 15, 2014|accessdate=June 30, 2015}}</ref>

Justice gives away more than $1 million in Christmas gifts annually through the Dream Tree for Kids campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dream Tree for Kids distributes $1 million worth of gifts|url=http://www.register-herald.com/news/dream-tree-for-kids-distributes-million-worth-of-gifts/article_008263ab-390e-59b5-acf1-905f67c08947.html|work=Beckley Register-Herald|accessdate=January 12, 2016}}</ref>

Before taking office as governor, Justice resigned from all the executive positions he held at his business. He placed his daughter Jill in charge of The Greenbrier and his son Jay in charge of his mining and agriculture businesses. He has said he will place all his assets in a blind trust, but that the process will take time because of their complexity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2017/01/30/billionaire-gov-jim-justice-says-hes-pursuing-blind-trust-commerce-secretary-thrasher-files-one/|title=Billionaire Gov. Jim Justice says he's pursuing blind trust; Commerce Secretary Thrasher files one|date=January 30, 2017 |website=WV MetroNews|access-date=August 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20170302/some-of-justices-companies-put-in-blind-trust|title=Some of Justice's companies put in blind trust|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|access-date=August 4, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Political career==
[[File:VP Pence Visits West Virginia 03.jpg|thumb|Jim and Cathy Justice meeting Vice President Mike Pence in March 2017]]
In 2015, Justice declared his candidacy for Governor of West Virginia in the 2016 election as a member of the Democratic Party.<ref name=wv/> He had been a registered member of the Republican Party until changing his registration in February 2015.<ref name="WSJ20150512">{{cite news |last=Maher |first=Kris |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/jim-justice-west-virginia-billionaire-launches-campaign-for-governor-1431380406 |title=Jim Justice, West Virginia Billionaire, Launches Campaign for Governor |work={{wipe|The Wall Street Journal}} |date=May 12, 2015 |accessdate=June 30, 2015 }}</ref> This was his first time running for political office.<ref name="MyUser_Wvmetronews.com_August_7_2015c">{{cite web |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2015/05/11/jim-justice-enters-politics-announces-2016-run-for-governor/|title=WV MetroNews – Jim Justice enters politics, announces 2016 run for governor |newspaper=Wvmetronews.com |first=Jeff|last=Jenkins|accessdate=August 7, 2015|date=May 11, 2015 }}</ref> In May 2016, Justice won the Democratic nomination for governor and ran against Republican nominee Bill Cole in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Raby |first=John |url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/jim-justice-wins-democratic-nomination-for-west-virginia-gov/article_4feb8f22-9ea2-5ed3-bf31-4b887b799b8c.html|title=Jim Justice wins Democratic nomination for West Virginia gov|work=The Herald-Dispatch|date=May 10, 2015 |accessdate=May 10, 2016}}{{dead link|date=April 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> On November 8, Justice won the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20161108/jim-justice-declared-winner-in-governors-race |title=Jim Justice wins WV gubernatorial race|accessdate=November 12, 2016}}</ref>

Justice was endorsed by the United Mine Workers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UMWA endorses Jim Justice for governor |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2015/11/12/umwa-endorses-jim-justice-for-governor/|website=WV MetroNews|access-date=January 12, 2016|date=November 12, 2015}}</ref>

===Governor of West Virginia===
[[File:Jim Justice 2017 InaugurationHighlights PB-74 (32406322245).jpg|thumb|Justice at his inauguration]]
Justice took office as governor on January 16, 2017. He is known for using colorful metaphors and digs at political opponents.<ref name="Knuckleheads">{{cite news|last1=Jenkins|first1=Jeff|title=From 'knuckleheads' to 'blockheads' Justice still critical of legislature over budget|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2017/03/06/from-knuckleheads-to-blockheads-justice-still-critical-of-legislature-over-budget/|accessdate=April 14, 2017|work=MetroNews|date=March 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Poodle">{{cite news|last1=McElhinny |first1=Brad|title=Governor Justice calls himself a grizzly and Senate majority leader a poodle |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2017/02/24/governor-justice-calls-himself-a-grizzly-and-senate-majority-leader-a-poodle/|accessdate=April 14, 2017|work=MetroNews|date=February 24, 2017}}</ref>

To improve West Virginia's budget situation, he has proposed raising the state's revenue by $450 million, primarily by increasing the consumer sales tax, reinstituting the [[Finance:Business and occupation tax|business and occupation (B & O) tax]], and establishing a "rich man's" tax.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2017/04/13/justice-vetoes-budget-by-unveiling-bull-manure/ |title=Justice vetoes budget by unveiling bull manure |publisher=West Virginia MetroNews Network |first=Jeff |last=Jenkins |date=April 13, 2017 |accessdate=August 4, 2017}}</ref> He also opposed plans to cut health and education spending.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/01/us/jim-justice-west-virginia-governor.html|title=West Virginia's Governor, an 'Unusual Democrat,' Fights a G.O.P. Tide|last=Bidgood|first=Jess|date=May 1, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 4, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On April 13, 2017, while vetoing a budget bill passed by the Republican-controlled West Virginia Legislature, Justice said the bill was "nothing more than a bunch of political you-know-what" and showed a prop featuring bull feces on a print copy of the bill.<ref name="Budget veto">{{cite news|last1=Stevenson|first1=Peter W.|title=The governor of West Virginia brought a plate of B.S. to the statehouse, literally|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/14/the-governor-of-west-virginia-brought-a-plate-of-b-s-to-the-statehouse-literally/|accessdate=April 14, 2017|work={{wipe|The Washington Post}}|date=April 14, 2017}}</ref>

On August 3, 2017, Justice announced that he had rejoined the Republican Party. He made the announcement at a Donald Trump rally in Huntington and also confirmed his support for the sitting President. Justice said that he was returning to the GOP because he could not help Trump as a Democrat. The announcement came as a surprise to his own staff.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kabler|first=Phil|date=August 3, 2017 |title=WV Gov. Justice switching political parties, returning to GOP|url=http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20170803/wv-gov-justice-switching-political-parties-returning-to-gop |publisher=Charleston Gazette |access-date=August 4, 2017}}</ref> This also made Justice the first Republican governor of West Virginia since Cecil Underwood in 2001.

Even after switching to the Republican Party, Justice initially supported incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin for his reelection campaign in the 2018 Senate election in West Virginia.<ref name="Justice">{{cite web |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2017/09/20/governor-justice-now-republican-tells-republicans-he-supports-manchins-senate-bid/|title=WV MetroNews – Governor Justice, now Republican, tells Republicans he supports Manchin's Senate bid|website=wvmetronews.com |accessdate=April 5, 2018|date=September 20, 2017}}<br/>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/gop-gov-jim-justice-backs-democrat-joe-manchin-for-senate/article/2635089|title=GOP Gov. Jim Justice backs Democrat Joe Manchin for Senate|date=September 20, 2017|accessdate=April 5, 2018}}</ref> However, later in the general election, Justice endorsed Republican Senate candidate, Patrick Morrisey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2019/03/14/manchin-and-justice-exchange-fire-again-over-w-va-road-conditions/|title=Manchin and Justice exchange fire - again - over W.Va. road conditions|date=2019-03-14|website=WV MetroNews|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-02}}</ref>

===Tenure===
====Political positions ====
Justice began his gubernatorial campaign and political career as a conservative Democrat.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/jim-justice-wins-wv-gubernatorial-race/article_51616242-0090-5608-a495-b9613d7a2b86.html|title=Jim Justice wins WV gubernatorial race|last=Brown|first=Andrew|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/09/west-virginia-2016-governor-coal-cole-justice-214268|title=Is West Virginia Holding America's Weirdest Election?|work=POLITICO Magazine|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> ''{{wipe|Time (magazine)}}'' magazine identified him as a moderate Democrat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://time.com/4886765/west-virginia-rally-jim-justice-republican-trump/|title=West Virginia Governor Switches Parties at Trump Rally|website=Time|language=en|access-date=November 20, 2018}}</ref> However, as noted above, he switched to the Republican Party a few months after taking office and declared his support for President Donald Trump.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maxjedeurpalmgren/2017/08/04/billionaire-and-wv-governor-jim-justice-switches-to-republican-at-trump-event/#59e2b096483b|title=Billionaire and WV Governor Jim Justice Switches To Republican at Trump Event|last=Jedeur-Palmgren|first=Max|work=Forbes|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

==== Economic policy ====
Justice campaigned and has governed with support for the coal industry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/03/trump-praises-west-virginia-governor-coal-241313|title=Trump: Praise for Justice and coal|work=POLITICO|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> He does not support raising taxes, but has supported increasing teachers' salaries arguing that increased state revenue will pay for the increased budget spending.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2018/01/10/new-spending-proposals-and-a-tax-cut-on-governor-justices-plate-this-year/|title=WV MetroNews – New spending proposals and a tax cut on Governor Justice's plate this year|website=wvmetronews.com|language=en-US|access-date=November 20, 2018|date=January 11, 2018}}</ref> In 2017, Justice said that he opposed budget cuts and supported raising sales taxes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2018/05/04/governor-justice-highlights-state-revenue/|title=WV MetroNews – Governor Justice highlights improving state revenue|website=wvmetronews.com|language=en-US|access-date=November 20, 2018|date=May 4, 2018}}</ref> The libertarian [[Organization:Cato Institute|Cato Institute]] gave Justice an "F" grade based on their positions, but Justice voiced his disagreement with the rating.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/justice-dismisses-f-on-cato-institute-report-card-on-fiscal/article_5587ddce-938c-5c72-9975-a70ec661317b.html|title=Justice dismisses 'F' on Cato Institute report card on fiscal policy|last=writer|first=Phil Kabler Staff|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

==== Abortion ====
Justice had said that he does not support abortion, but that the Supreme Court had decided the issue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Jim_Justice_Abortion.htm|title=Jim Justice on Abortion|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=November 20, 2018}}</ref> Later, Justice attended a rally supporting Amendment 1, a state constitutional amendment intended to ban abortion if ''Roe v. Wade'' is overturned.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/west-virginians-to-vote-on-amendment-to-constitution-concerning-abortion/article_0bd04fd6-892c-5eac-8e0d-3d3d491af1a8.html|title=West Virginians to vote on amendment to constitution concerning abortion|work=WV News|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/anti-abortion-proponents-rally-for-amendment/article_f83d36b4-7b6f-5309-9107-09d88f428797.html|title=Anti-abortion proponents rally for Amendment 1|last=writer|first=Lori Kersey Staff|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> He is considered pro-life and signed two anti-abortion bills into law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2018/01/12/pro-life-lawmakers-look-to-restrict-taxpayer-paid-for-abortions/|title=WV MetroNews – Pro-life lawmakers look to restrict taxpayer-funded abortions|website=wvmetronews.com|language=en-US|access-date=November 20, 2018|date=January 12, 2018}}</ref>

====Gun Control====
Justice supports gun ownership and loosened gun laws. In 2018, Justice signed into a law a bill allowing gun owners to keep their guns locked in vehicles on their employers' property, a bill that was supported by the NRA.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsaz.com/content/news/WVa-lawmakers-approve-parked-guns-legislation-476417103.html|title=UPDATE: W.Va. Gov. Justice signs 'parked guns' legislation|last=MetroNews|first=The Associated Press, Bradford Arick, WSAZ News Staff|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> He also signed a bill legalizing hunting on Sundays on private land.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvnews.com/theet/news/free/gov-justice-approves-several-gun-related-bills/article_524f004d-6d0b-5bcc-ae16-52b5713fa3fa.html|title=Gov. Justice approves several gun-related bills|last=JOURNAL|first=Rusty Marks THE STATE|work=WV News|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

====Healthcare====
Justice supports West Virginia's Medicaid expansion, which was implemented by the previous governor under provisions of the [[Finance:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|Affordable Care Act]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Jim_Justice_Health_Care.htm|title=Jim Justice on Health Care|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=November 20, 2018}}</ref>

====LGBTQ Rights====
Justice stated that he respects the Supreme Court's decision on ''Obergefell v. Hodges'', which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, and that it is settled law.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/justice-weighs-in-on-same-sex-marriage-decision/article_cfc75c77-2bf5-5fe5-83cd-c2a5fdd18638.html|title=Justice weighs in on same-sex marriage decision|last=Gutman|first=David|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 2017, Justice opposed a bill that would have allowed businesses to refuse service to LGBTQ customers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/jim-justice-opposes-religious-freedom-bill/article_fab770af-c186-5ccf-8fdc-3f8d5bd73cc0.html|title=Jim Justice opposes 'religious freedom' bill|last=Beck|first=Erin|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|access-date=November 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

====Environmental Policy====
According to the ''Charleston Gazette–Mail'', Justice has equivocated on the scientific consensus on [[Earth:Global warming|global warming]]. In an interview with the paper, he said: "There's documentation that would give one concern, and I don't think you should ignore that," he said. "At the same time, I think there's an awful lot of research that still should be done. [...] I surely wouldn't sit here and say I am a believer in global warming, but I wouldn't sit here and say that I am not concerned." Since the interview, Justice has stated that he does not believe climate change or global warming are caused by humans.<ref name=":0"/>

==Personal life==

Justice lives in Lewisburg, West Virginia. He met his wife, Cathy (''née'' Comer) in high school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.governor.wv.gov/about/Pages/default.aspx|title=About Jim|website=www.governor.wv.gov|accessdate=August 4, 2017}}</ref> They have two children, Jay and Jill.<ref name=wapo/> He stands at 6 feet and 7 inches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.successfulmeetings.com/Strategy/Meeting-Strategies/James-C--Justice-II,-West-Virginia-s-Gentle-Giant/|title=James C. Justice II, West Virginia's Gentle Giant: Successful Meetings|website=www.successfulmeetings.com|accessdate=May 14, 2017}}</ref>

Justice is a lifelong fan of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL), and spent $30&nbsp;million to develop a training facility for the team to use in 2014 at The Greenbrier.<ref name=wv/><ref name=saints/> He hosts the Greenbrier Classic, a PGA Tour event, at The Greenbrier annually.<ref name=wv/>

===Youth sports===
Since 1992 Justice has been president of Beckley Little League. His participation has helped the program expand to over 1,000 children playing on 80 teams.

Having lived in Lewisburg since 2001, he has been the girls basketball coach at Greenbrier East High School since 2003, having won the state championship in 2012. In 2011, he also became the head coach for the boys basketball teams, a position from which he stepped down in September 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wvva.com/story/36370290/2017/09/Thursday/gov-justice-will-no-longer-coach-high-school-boys-basketball|title=Gov. Justice will no longer coach high school boys basketball|first=Paul|last=Hess|accessdate=April 5, 2018}}</ref> He was the only coach at the AAA level (the state's largest classification) who coached both the girls and boys basketball teams. Justice stated that though he will place his business interests in a blind trust upon becoming governor, he will still coach basketball while serving.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/db837818bed746cea1bd53ea2839204d|title=West Virginia gov-elect plans to keep coaching basketball |accessdate=May 14, 2017|date=December 23, 2016 }}</ref>  In discussing the coaching position, Justice said, "There are three things I know that I can do, and that's shoot a shotgun, make a deal and coach basketball. I'm excited about it."

==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016, Democratic primary<ref name=primaryresults>{{cite web |url=http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2016&eid=22&county=Statewide |title=Official 2016 Primary Election Results |publisher=West Virginia Secretary of State |accessdate=July 20, 2016}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Justice
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 132,704
| percentage = 51.37%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Booth Goodwin
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 65,416
| percentage = 25.32%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Kessler
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 60,230
| percentage = 23.31%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 258,350
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016<ref>{{cite web|title=Statewide Results General Election November 8, 2016 |url=http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2016&eid=23&county=Statewide|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|publisher=State of West Virginia|accessdate=December 28, 2016}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Justice
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 350,408
| percentage = 49.09%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bill Cole
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 301,987
| percentage = 42.30%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Charlotte Pritt
| party = Mountain Party
| votes = 42,068
| percentage = 5.89%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Moran
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 15,354
| percentage = 2.15%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Phil Hudok
| party = Constitution Party (United States)
| votes = 4,041
| percentage = 0.57%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 713,858
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
  |winner = Democratic Party (United States)
  |loser =
  |swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
* List of American politicians who switched parties in office
* List of richest American politicians
* Party switching in the United States

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://governor.wv.gov/ Governor of West Virginia official government website]
* {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/West_Virginia/Government/Executive/Governor_Jim_Justice}}
* [http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2350 "Jim Justice" article in The West Virginia Encyclopedia]
* [http://politicselections.com/poll-jim-justice-losing-favor-among-republicans/ Poll Numbers on Jim Justice]
* {{C-SPAN|jimjustice}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Earl Ray Tomblin}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Governor of West Virginia|years=2016}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Earl Ray Tomblin}}
{{s-ttl|title=Governor of West Virginia|years=2017–present}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-bef|rows=2|before={{Incumbent VPOTUS}}|as=Vice President}}
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=Order of Precedence of the United States|years=Within West Virginia}}
{{s-aft|after=Mayor of city in which event is held}}
|-
{{s-aft|after=Otherwise {{Incumbent U.S. House Speaker}}<br>{{nowrap|''{{small|as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives}}''}}}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Laura Kelly|as=Governor of Kansas}}
{{s-ttl|title=Order of Precedence of the United States|years=Outside West Virginia}}
{{s-aft|after=Steve Sisolak|as=Governor of Nevada}}
{{s-end}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Justice, Jim}}
[[Category:Climate change skepticism and denial]]

{{Sourceattribution|Jim Justice|1}}