Gov. Jim Justice said Tuesday that he will leave the duty of appointing a new state health officer to Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey.

His announcement came after Dr. Matthew Christiansen, who has served as the state health officer since January 2023, resigned from the office last Friday. No information has been released about where Christiansen, who is also currently serving as the volunteer co-chair of the West Virginia First Foundation, will be working next.

The governor gave the answer during his weekly press briefing on Tuesday in response to a question from WV News reporter Charles Young.

"I think we should leave that to Patrick [Morrisey] and his team," Justice said. "It's too tight and everything and I think they'll do a good job picking somebody and I think that ought to be their pick."

Justice is set to take the oath of office as West Virginia's newest U.S. senator on Jan. 3, 2025. Morrisey is scheduled to be sworn in as governor on Jan. 13, 2025. It's unclear whether Justice will resign as governor in order to participate in the senatorial swearing in ceremony or if he will wait until Morrisey's inauguration. If he does leave the post early, the acting state senate president -- either outgoing Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, who will not be returning to the body this session, or Sen. Randy Smith, R-Tucker, who was nominated to be the incoming senate president earlier this month -- will serve as acting governor until Morrisey officially takes office.

Justice said Tuesday that talks are still ongoing with people in his office and those working with Morrisey to finalize what the transition to power will look like.

"We're trying to figure it out on how all of this would work, but it is a quagmire a little bit," Justice said. "I'm sure we can figure it out and make it happen smoothly and everything but right now I have not made a decision, but I will very soon."