How Do The West Virginia Circuit Courts Work?

The West Virginia court system comprises 31 judicial circuits. Circuit Courts are the only general jurisdiction courts in the state’s court system. These courts have jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases heard in the state of West Virginia, and they typically handle the following types of cases:

• All felonies and misdemeanor cases
• Civil matters involving more than $300
• All civil cases in equity
• Civil cases at law involving over $7,500
• Proceedings in habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and certiorari
• Proceedings involving juvenile delinquency, child abuse, and neglect

In addition to this, Circuit Courts receive orders from judicial officers on matters involving mental hygiene and juvenile cases. Circuit Courts also hear appeals from other lower courts, and any of the state’s administrative agencies. This does not include:

• Appeals related to worker’s compensation. (The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has exclusive jurisdiction over these types of cases)
• Family Court cases where both parties agree to appeal directly to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals

Criminal cases heard in these courts are typically by jury, and civil cases can also involve juries. However, in criminal cases that require a trial by jury, the defendant can choose to waive the jury trial.

Sentencing orders in West Virginia Circuit Court criminal case prosecutions are typically issued within eight months after the date of indictment or information. This includes the date of arrest or the date of service of summons for misdemeanor prosecutions. For Civil cases, final judgments are typically issued within 18 months after the lawsuit was filed. However, for civil cases that do not involve a money judgment, this timeframe is reduced to six months. Decisions rendered in Circuit Courts can be appeale ande’s Supreme Court of Appeals.

Each judicial circuit in the West Virginia court system comprises at least one county, with some Circuits having as many as four. However, each of the state’s 55 counties has a courthouse where a circuit judge can preside over cases. The West Virginia court system has a total of 75 circuit judges that are elected in non-partisan elections to eight-year terms. Only individuals who have practiced law in West Virginia for a minimum of five years are eligible for election to become a Circuit Court judge. In situations where a Circuit Court judge cannot complete an elected term, a replacement judge is appointed by the governor until the next election.

Records of West Virginia Circuit Court cases are public records. Members of the public that wish to access these records may do so by contacting the office of Circuit Clerk in the county where the court is located. However, requestors may be required to pay a fee before copies of these records can be obtained.

Circuit Courts can be found at the following locations:

Barbour County Circuit Court
Barbour County Courthouse
26 North Main Street
Philippi, WV 26416
Phone: (304) 457–3454 ext. 211

Berkeley County Circuit Court
Berkeley County Judicial Center
380 West South Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
Phone: (304) 264–1918

Boone County Circuit Court
Boone County Courthouse
200 State Street
Madison, WV 25130
Phone: (304) 369–7321

Braxton County Circuit Court
Braxton County Courthouse
300 Main Street
Sutton, WV 26601
Phone: (304) 765–2837

Brooke County Circuit Court
Brooke County Courthouse
632 Main Street
P.O. Box 474
Wellsburg, WV 26070
Phone: (304) 737–3662

Cabell County Circuit Court
Cabell County Courthouse
750 5th Avenue
P.O. Box 545
Huntington, WV 25710
Phone: (304) 526–8622

Calhoun County Circuit Court
Calhoun County Courthouse
363 Main Street
P.O. Box 266
Grantsville, WV 26147
Phone: (304) 354–6910

Clay County Circuit Court
Clay County Courthouse
246 Main Street
P.O. Box 129
Clay, WV 25043
Phone: (304) 587–4256

Doddridge County Circuit Court
Doddridge County Courthouse
118 East Court Street
West Union, WV 26456
Phone: (304) 873–2331

Fayette County Circuit Court
Fayette County Courthouse
100 North Court Street
Fayetteville, WV 25840
Phone: (304) 574–4249

Gilmer County Circuit Court
Gilmer County Courthouse
10 Howard Street
Glenville, WV 26351
Phone: (304) 462–7241

Grant County Circuit Court
Grant County Courthouse
5 Highland Avenue
Petersburg, WV 26847
Phone: (304) 257–4545

Greenbrier County Circuit Court
Greenbrier County Courthouse
200 Court Street North
Lewisburg, WV 24901
Phone: (304) 647–6626

Hampshire County Circuit Court
Hampshire County Judicial Center
50 South High Street
P.O. Box 343, Romney, WV 26757
Phone: (304) 822–5022

Hancock County Circuit Court
Hancock County Courthouse
102 North Court Street
P.O. Box 428
New Cumberland, WV 26047
Phone: (304) 564–3311

Hardy County Circuit Court
Hardy County Courthouse
204 Washington Street
Room 237
Moorefield, WV 26836
Phone: (304) 530–0230

Harrison County Circuit Court
Harrison County Courthouse
301 West Main Street
Clarksburg, WV 26301
Phone: (304) 624–8640

Jackson County Circuit Court
Jackson County Courthouse
100 Court Street
P.O. Box 427
Ripley, WV 25271
Phone: (304) 373–2210

Jefferson County Circuit Court
Jefferson County Old Jail Annex
119 North George Street
P.O. Box 1234
Charles Town, WV 25414
Phone: (304) 728–3231

Kanawha County Circuit Court
Kanawha County Judicial Building
111 Court Street
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 357–0440

Lewis County Circuit Court
117 Court Avenue
P.O. Box 69
Weston, WV 26452
Phone: (304) 269–8210

Lincoln County Circuit Court
Lincoln County Courthouse
8000 Court Avenue
P.O. Box 338
Hamlin, WV 25523
Phone: (304) 824–7990 ext. 239

Logan County Circuit Court
Logan County Courthouse
300 Stratton Street
Logan, WV 25601
Phone: (304) 792–8550

Marion County Circuit Court
Marion County Courthouse
219 Adams Street
Room 211
Fairmont, WV 26554
Phone: (304) 367–5360

Marshall County Circuit Court
Marshall County Courthouse
600 7th Street
Room 127
Moundsville, WV 26041
Phone: (304) 845–2130

Mason County Circuit Court
Mason County Courthouse
200 6th Street
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675–4400

McDowell County Circuit Court
McDowell County Courthouse
90 Wyoming Street
Suite 201
Welch, WV 24801
Phone: (304) 436–8535

Mercer County Circuit Court
Mercer County Courthouse
1501 Main Street
Princeton, WV 24740
Phone: (304) 487–8323

Mineral County Circuit Court
Mineral County Courthouse
150 Armstrong Street
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788–1562

Mingo County Circuit Court
Mingo County Courthouse
75 East 2nd Avenue
P.O. Box 435
Williamson, WV 25661
Phone: (304) 235–0320

Monongalia County Circuit Court
Monongalia County Courthouse
243 High Street
Room 110
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: (304) 291–7240

Monroe County Circuit Court
Monroe County Courthouse
216 Main Street
P.O. Box 350
Union, WV 24983
Phone: (304) 772–3017

Morgan County Circuit Court
Morgan County Courthouse
77 Fairfax Street
Room 302
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
Phone: (304) 258–8554

Nicholas County Circuit Court
Nicholas County Courthouse
700 Main Street
Suite 5
Summersville, WV 26651
Phone: (304) 872–7810

Ohio County Circuit Court
Ohio County Courthouse
1500 Chapline Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: (304) 234–3611

Pleasants County Circuit Court
Pleasants County Courthouse
301 Court Lane
St. Marys, WV 26170
Phone: (304) 684–3513

Pendleton County Circuit Court
Pendleton County Courthouse
100 South Main Street
P.O. Box 846
Franklin, WV 26807
Phone: (304) 358–7067

Pocahontas County Circuit Court
Pocahontas County Courthouse
900 10th Avenue
Suite D
Marlinton, WV 24954
Phone: (304) 799–4604

Preston County Circuit Court
Preston County Courthouse
101 West Main Street
Room 301
Kingwood, WV 26537
Phone: (304) 329–0047

Putnam County Circuit Court
Putnam County Judicial Building
12093 Winfield Road
Winfield, WV 25213
Phone: (304) 586–0203

Raleigh County Circuit Court
Raleigh County Judicial Center
222 Main Street
P.O. Box 2518
Beckley, WV 25801
Phone: (304) 255–9135

Randolph County Circuit Court
Randolph County Courthouse
2 Randolph Avenue
Elkins, WV 26241
Phone: (304) 636–2765

Ritchie County Circuit Court
Ritchie County Courthouse
115 East Main Street
Room 301
Harrisville, WV 26362
Phone: (304) 643–2164 ext. 229

Roane County Circuit Court
Roane County Courthouse
200 Main Street
Spencer, WV 25276
Phone: (304) 927–2750

Summers County Circuit Court
Summers County Courthouse
120 Ballengee Street
Hinton, WV 25951
Phone: (304) 466–7103

Taylor County Circuit Court
Taylor County Courthouse
214 West Main Street
Room 104
Grafton, WV 26354
Phone: (304) 265–2480

Tucker County Circuit Court
Tucker County Courthouse
211 1st Street
Suite 407
Parsons, WV 26287
Phone: (304) 478–2606 ext. 202

Tyler County Circuit Court
Tyler County Courthouse
121 Main Street
P.O. Box 8
Middlebourne, WV 26149
Phone: (304) 758–4811

Upshur County Circuit Court
Upshur County Courthouse Annex
38 West Main Street
Room 304
Buckhannon, WV 26201
Phone: (304) 472–2370

Wayne County Circuit Court
Wayne County Courthouse
700 Hendricks Street
P.O. Box 38
Wayne, WV 25570
Phone: (304) 272–5359 (Criminal, Adoption, Mental Hygiene, Guardianship)
Phone: (304) 272–6360 (Civil, Juvenile, Minor Guardianship)

Webster County Circuit Court
Webster County Courthouse
2 Court Square, Room G4
Webster Springs, WV 26288
Phone: (304) 847–2421

Wetzel County Circuit Court
Wetzel County Courthouse
200 Main Street
P.O. Box 263
New Martinsville, WV 26155
Phone: (304) 455–8219

Wirt County Circuit Court
Wirt County Courthouse
1 Court Street
P.O. Box 465
Elizabeth, WV 26143
Phone: (304) 275–6597

Wood County Circuit Court
Wood County Judicial Office
2 Government Square
Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: (304) 424–1700

Wyoming County Circuit Court
Wyoming County Courthouse
24 Main Avenue
P.O. Box 190
Pineville, WV 24874
Phone: (304) 732–8000