really humbled to be inducted into such a prestigious organization ,” she says .
Brewer received the Justitia Officium Award from the West Virginia University ( WVU ) College of Law in 2013 and was named by The State Journal as one of West Virginia ’ s Top 10 Most Influential Leaders in 2012 .
Brewer and her family like giving back to their community by supporting local organizations and causes . She has previously served on the boards of her church and community hospital , and since 2010 , she has served on the WVU Foundation ’ s board of directors . Her husband and their two sons are Eagle Scouts and have been very involved with the scout troop for many years .
Brewer has also served on the West Virginia Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission through multiple administrations . For several years , she has chaired the commission , which is composed of attorneys and citizens who interview candidates and make recommendations to the governor for appointment to vacant judicial positions .
“ Helping the governor make these appointments is a way to give back to my profession and put my decades of experience to good use ,” Brewer says . “ Our work helping the governor appoint the first judges for the Intermediate Court of Appeals was groundbreaking this year .”
She is also passionate about mentoring young litigators , especially those who move into leadership positions — something she has done at her firm for years .
“ I made every effort to teach them how to try a case and usually had a young attorney with me on my more complicated trials so they could help out and get some experience ,” she says . “ It was very rewarding to see them develop into fantastic trial lawyers .”
Since she finished up her years as managing partner of the firm , Brewer has been slowly reducing her professional responsibilities , taking up other hobbies instead . She returned to her love of reading , particularly nonfiction . However , she temporarily switched to fiction as her son ’ s novel “ The Red Arrow ” was recently released . She also enjoys being outside , whether that means gardening and spending spring and summer weekends working in the yard or crossing items off her and her husband ’ s bucket lists , such as learning to fly fish in Wyoming and Idaho or going on the Band of Brothers Tour in 2023 . She ’ s hoping to fully retire very soon .
“ But , after almost 42 years , it ’ s hard to do ,” she says .
Despite both her and her husband growing up in big-city suburbs , living in West Virginia has suited them well . Brewer and her husband have lived in
Morgantown for more than 40 years , where they have raised four children .
“ Being a good daughter , sister , wife , mother and now grandmother is the most important goal for me ,” she says . “ I know I haven ’ t always gotten it right , but it ’ s not because of a lack of effort .”
While she has loved her career , Brewer says that she loves being a parent even more , despite it being the hardest job she ’ s ever had .
“ I hope I have been a good role model for other female lawyers . I always tried to show how it ’ s possible to be a busy litigator and still have a large and active family ,” she says . “ I believe I ’ ve also shown that it ’ s possible to be a high-level leader and still have a great family life .” •
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