West Virginia University College of Law
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The West Virginia University College of Law is the professional school for the study of law at
West Virginia University West Virginia University (WVU) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, Potomac State College ...
in Morgantown,
West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...
, United States. The
law school A law school (also known as a law centre or college of law) is an institution specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer within a given jurisdiction. Law degrees Argentina In Argentina, ...
was established in 1878 as the first professional school in the state, and remains the only law school in the state. The law school is a member of the
Association of American Law Schools The Association of American Law Schools (AALS), formed in 1900, is a non-profit organization of 176 law schools in the United States. An additional 19 schools pay a fee to receive services but are not members. AALS incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non ...
and is accredited by the
American Bar Association The American Bar Association (ABA) is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. Founded in 1878, the ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of acad ...
.


History

Founded in 1878, the WVU College of Law opened to students, with classes taken in Woodburn Hall. The school would move to Colson Hall in 1923, and finally to its current location on Law School Hill in 1974. The university settled on this location following its acquisition from the Morgantown Country Club, with the building being renovated in 2012. The first graduate, William R. Thompson, received his LLB in 1879. In 1895, the first female graduate, Agnes Westbrook Morrison, graduated from the College of Law. In 1949, Charles E. Price was the first
African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
student to graduate from the College.


''West Virginia Law Review''

Founded in 1894, the ''West Virginia Law Review'' is the fourth oldest law review in the United States and publishes three issues each year. The ''West Virginia Law Review'' is a professional, student-governed legal journal that publishes articles of interest to legal scholars, students, legislators, and members of the practicing bar. The publication, which includes notes, comments, and articles of scholarly and practical value to the legal community, is published by a student editorial board.


Clinics

*General Practice Law Clinic *Child & Family Law Clinic with Medical-Legal Partnership *Immigration Law Clinic *West Virginia Innocence Project Law Clinic *Taxpayer Advocacy Law Clinic *Veterans Assistance Project Law Clinic *Entrepreneurship & Innovation Law Clinic *Land Use & Sustainable Development Law Clinic *U.S. Supreme Court Law Clinic


List of Deans

1st. Okey Johnson (1895-1903) 2nd. St. George Tucker Brooke (1903-1906) 3rd. Charles E. Hogg (1906-1913) 4th. Henry C. Jones (1913-1921) 5th. J. Warren Madden (1921-1927) 6th.
Thurman Arnold Thurman Wesley Arnold (June 2, 1891 – November 7, 1969) was an American lawyer best known for his trust-busting campaign as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Department of Justice ...
(1927-1931) 7th. Thomas P. Hardman (1931-1956) 8th. Clyde L. Colson (1956-1964) 9th. Paul L. Selby (1964-1972) 10th. Willard D. Lorensen (1972-1978) 11th.
E. Gordon Gee Elwood Gordon Gee (born February 2, 1944), known as E. Gordon Gee, is an American academic. As of 2020, he was serving his second term as Chancellor (education), President of West Virginia University; his first term was from 1981 to 1985. Gee has ...
(1979-1981) 12th. Carl M. Selinger (1982-1989) 13th. Donald G. Gifford (1989-1992) 14th. Teree E. Foster (1993-1997) 15th. John W. Fisher, II (1998-2008) 16th. Joyce E. McConnell (2008-2014) 17th. Gregory W. Bowman (2015-2020) 18th. Amelia Smith Rinehart (2021–Present)


Academics


Admissions

For the Class of 2022, the College of Law enrolled 115 students with an average LSAT of 154 and an average GPA of 3.46/4.00. The average age is 25, with a range of 21 to 44; 53% are female; 8% self-identify as minority. Out-of-state residents comprise 43% of the Class of 2022.


Rankings

* '' U.S. News & World Report'' listed WVU's full-time
Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...
program as 118th in the nation in 2023. * #74 Best Law School for Environmental Law, # 76 in Health Care Law, #96 in Tax Law *Top 25 Law School for Corporate Leadership – independent research by Professor Robert Anderson, Pepperdine University * #31 Law School for Federal Clerkships — independent research, ABA data (2018) * #2 Law School for Greatest Community Impact —The National Jurist (2017) * Top Law School for Public Interest Law (A) and Environment Law (A) — preLaw Magazine (2019) * Best Value Law School — preLaw Magazine/The National Jurist (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015)


Bar-passage rates

Until 1989 graduates of the Law School were granted "Diploma Privileges" in West Virginia. This meant that graduates of WVU Law were not required to take the West Virginia Bar Exam. They were automatically licensed to practice law upon graduation. The most common bar exam for a graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law is the
Uniform Bar Exam In the United States, those seeking to become lawyers must normally pass a bar examination before they can be admitted to the bar and become licensed to practice law. Bar exams are administered by states or territories, generally by agencies under ...
. The passing UBE score in West Virginia is 270. *ABA Ultimate Bar Passage Rate - 2019: 85.57% *ABA Ultimate Bar Passage Rate - 2018: 88% *First-time Bar Passage Rate - 2017: 79.81%


Employment

For the Class of 2018, the employment rate for full-time/long-term Bar Passage Required jobs was 66.3%. It was 7.1% for J.D. Advantage jobs. The employment rate for private practice jobs was 54.7%; for judicial clerkships, 13%; and for jobs in public interest law, 11.9%.


Cost of attendance

The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at West Virginia University for the 2019-2020 academic year is $39,598 for WV residents, and $56,118 for non-residents. The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $152,702 for WV residents, and is $206,968 for non-residents.


Notable alumni

Graduates of the West Virginia University College of Law practice in 46 US states, as well as every county of West Virginia. The school has many notable alumni, which include former governors, judges, businessmen, congressmen, and diplomats: *
Stephen Ailes Stephen Ailes (May 25, 1912 – June 30, 2001) was a prominent member of the District of Columbia Bar and a partner in the firm of Steptoe & Johnson. He served as the United States Under Secretary of the Army from February 9, 1961, to January 28, ...
(L 1936), 8th
United States Secretary of the Army The secretary of the Army (SA or SECARMY) is a senior civilian official within the United States Department of Defense, with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, insta ...
(1964-65) * Robert E. Lee Allen (L 1895), U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1923-25) * Tim Armstead (J.D. 1990), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(2018-) and 54th Speaker of
West Virginia House of Delegates The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates. Organization Regular sessions begin with ...
(2015-18) *
Carl George Bachmann Carl G. Bachmann (May 14, 1890 – January 22, 1980) was a United States Congressman from Wheeling, West Virginia. Bachmann was born in Wheeling as the son of Charles F. and Sophia Bachmann; three of his grandparents were German immigrants. In 1 ...
(L 1915),
U.S. Congressman The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
from West Virginia and
Minority Whip The positions of majority leader and minority leader are held by two United States senators and members of the party leadership of the United States Senate. They serve as the chief spokespersons for their respective political parties holding t ...
(1925-33) * John P. Bailey (J.D. 1976), Judge,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2007-) * William E. Baker (L 1896), Judge,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1921-54) * William W. Barron (L 1934), 27th
Attorney General of West Virginia Attorney may refer to: * Lawyer ** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions * Attorney, one who has power of attorney * ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film See also * Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...
(1957-61), 26th
Governor of West Virginia A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
(1961-65) *
Irene Berger Irene Cornelia Berger (born September 27, 1954) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Early life and education A native of Faraday in McDowell County, West Virginia ...
(J.D. 1979), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2009-) * W. Robert Blair (L 1954), 63rd Speaker of the
Illinois House of Representatives The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 re ...
(1971-75) *
William Thomas Bland William Thomas Bland (January 21, 1861 – January 15, 1928) was an American lawyer and businessman born in what became West Virginia during the American Civil War and who served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri. Early life William Thoma ...
(L 1884), U.S. Congressman for Missouri (1919-21) * Herbert Stephenson Boreman (L 1920), Judge,
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (in case citations, 4th Cir.) is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts: * District of Maryla ...
(1959-82) and
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1954-59) * W. Craig Broadwater (J.D. 1977), Judge,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1996-2006) * Chauncey Browning Sr. (L 1927), 25th
Attorney General of West Virginia Attorney may refer to: * Lawyer ** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions * Attorney, one who has power of attorney * ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film See also * Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...
(1952) and Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(1952-1971) * Chauncey H. Browning Jr. (L 1958), 29th
Attorney General of West Virginia Attorney may refer to: * Lawyer ** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions * Attorney, one who has power of attorney * ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film See also * Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...
(1969-85) * C. Haley Bunn (J.D. 2010), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(2022-) *
John T. Chambers John Thomas Chambers (born August 23, 1949) is the former executive chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems. Early life Chambers was born on August 23, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio to John Tuner "Jack" and June Chambers. His mother was a psychiatrist and ...
(J.D. 1974),
CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
of
Cisco Cisco Systems, Inc., commonly known as Cisco, is an American-based multinational digital communications technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California. Cisco develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, ...
*
Robert Charles Chambers Robert Charles Chambers (born August 27, 1952) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Education and career Born in Williamson, West Virginia, Chambers received an Art ...
(L 1977), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1997-) and 50th Speaker of
West Virginia House of Delegates The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates. Organization Regular sessions begin with ...
(1987-97) * William G. Conley (L 1893), 15th
Attorney General of West Virginia Attorney may refer to: * Lawyer ** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions * Attorney, one who has power of attorney * ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film See also * Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...
(1908-1913), and 18th
Governor of West Virginia A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
(1929-1933) * John Thomas Copenhaver Jr. (L 1950), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1976-) *
Robin Davis Robin may refer to: Animals * Australasian robins, red-breasted songbirds of the family Petroicidae * Many members of the subfamily Saxicolinae (Old World chats), including: ** European robin (''Erithacus rubecula'') **Bush-robin ** Forest ...
(J.D. 1982), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(1996-2018) * Joseph S. Farland (L 1938), career
diplomat A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...
, U.S. Ambassador to
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
,
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
,
Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...
,
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
*
Mike Florio Michael James Florio (born June 8, 1965) is an American sportswriter, author, radio host, and television commentator. He writes for '' Profootballtalk.com'' which he created and owns. He also hosts the daily NFL talk show ''PFT Live'' on Peacock ...
(J.D. 1991), founder of ProFootballTalk.com * Edwin F. Flowers (L 1954), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(1975-76) * George Ford (L 1896), 1st Coach of
Marshall Thundering Herd football The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Sun Belt Conference East Division of the National Collegiate Athletic Associat ...
(1903-04) * Joseph R. Goodwin (J.D. 1970), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1995-) *
Gina Marie Groh Gina Marie Groh (née Householder; born June 7, 1964) is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. Early life and education A native of Williamsport, Maryland, Groh received a ...
(J.D. 1989), Judge,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2012-) * Charles Harold Haden II (L 1961), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(1972-75), Judge,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1975-83) and
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1975-2004) *
Kenneth Keller Hall Kenneth Keller Hall (February 24, 1918 – July 8, 1999) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and was previously a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the S ...
(J.D. 1948), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1971-1976),
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (in case citations, 4th Cir.) is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts: * District of Maryla ...
(1976-1999) * Elizabeth Virginia Hallanan (J.D. 1951), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1983-2004) *
Roger Hanshaw Roger Hanshaw (born March 24, 1980) is an American politician from West Virginia who currently serves as the Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates, in office since August 2018. West Virginia House of Delegates Hanshaw was first elected ...
(J.D. 2012), 55th Speaker of the
West Virginia House of Delegates The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates. Organization Regular sessions begin with ...
(2018-) * Robert Lynn Hogg (L 1916), U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1930-33) * John A. Hutchison (J.D. 1980), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(2018-) * William J. Ihlenfeld II (J.D. 1997), U.S. Attorney,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2010-2016, 2021-) * H. Marshall Jarrett (J.D. 1969), Director for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys,
U.S. Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and administration of justice in the United State ...
* George William Johnson (L 1896), U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1923-25, 1933-43) * Thomas E. Johnston (J.D. 1992), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2006-) and U.S. Attorney,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2001-2006) * Irene Patricia Murphy Keeley (J.D. 1980), Judge,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1992-) * Jeffrey V. Kessler (J.D.), President,
West Virginia State Senate The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature. There are seventeen senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms. Although the Democratic Party held a supermajority in t ...
(2011-2015) *
Menis E. Ketchum Menis E. Ketchum II (born January 31, 1943, in Wayne County, West Virginia) is an American politician and jurist who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. He was elected as a Democrat to a twelve-year term on the C ...
(J.D. 1967), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(2009-2018) * William Matthew Kidd (L 1950), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1979-83) and
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1983-98) * Harley M. Kilgore (L 1914),
United States Senator The United States Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives being the Lower house, lower chamber. Together they compose the national Bica ...
(1941-56) *
Robert Bruce King Robert Bruce King (born January 29, 1940) is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Early life and education King was born in 1940 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. His father died w ...
(J.D. 1968), Judge,
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (in case citations, 4th Cir.) is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts: * District of Maryla ...
(1998-) and U.S. Attorney for the
Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1977-81) *
Tom Kleeh Thomas Shawn Kleeh (born September 14, 1974) is the Chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. Biography Kleeh was born and raised in Wheeling, West Virginia and gradua ...
(J.D. 1999), Judge,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2018-) * Dennis Raymond Knapp (L 1940), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1970-98) * Jon D. Levy (J.D. 1979), Chief Judge,
United States District Court for the District of Maine The U.S. District Court for the District of Maine (in case citations, D. Me.) is the U.S. district court for the state of Maine. The District of Maine was one of the original thirteen district courts established by the Judiciary Act of 17 ...
(2014-) and Justice,
Maine Supreme Judicial Court The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in the state of Maine's judicial system. It is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate. From 1820 until 1839, justices served lifetime a ...
(2002-14) * Francis J. Love (J.D. 1932), U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1947-49) * William C. Marland (L 1947), 24th
Attorney General of West Virginia Attorney may refer to: * Lawyer ** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions * Attorney, one who has power of attorney * ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film See also * Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...
(1949-52), 24th
Governor of West Virginia A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
(1953-57) * Haymond Maxwell (L 1901), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(1929-1940) * Robert Earl Maxwell (L 1949), Judge,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1965-2010) and U.S. Attorney for the
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1961-64) *
Spike Maynard Elliott E. "Spike" Maynard (December 8, 1942 – May 1, 2014) was an American lawyer and former judge from West Virginia. In 1996 he was elected as a Democrat to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. A judge of West Virginia's 30th Judi ...
(J.D. 1974), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(1997-2008) *
JB McCuskey John "JB" McCuskey (born in Charleston, West Virginia) is an American politician who has served as West Virginia State Auditor since January 16, 2017. A Republican Party (United States), Republican, he was a member of the West Virginia House of ...
(J.D. 2009), 21st West Virginia State Auditor (2017-) *
Darrell McGraw Darrell Vivian McGraw Jr. (born November 8, 1936) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician. He is the brother of former West Virginia State Supreme Court Justice and state Senate President Warren McGraw. He was elected the state supre ...
(J.D. 1964), 33rd
Attorney General of West Virginia Attorney may refer to: * Lawyer ** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions * Attorney, one who has power of attorney * ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film See also * Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...
(1993-2013) and Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(1976-1988) * Thomas McHugh (J.D. 1964), Justice, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (1981-97, 2009-13) * Carlos E. Mendoza (J.D. 1997), Judge,
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (in case citations, M.D. Fla.) is a federal court in the Eleventh Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appea ...
(2014-) *
Alan Mollohan Alan Bowlby Mollohan (born May 14, 1943) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 1983 to 2011. He was a member of the Democratic Party and the Blue Dog Coalition. The district encompasses the northern part of ...
(J.D. 1970), U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1983-2011) *
Arch A. Moore, Jr. Arch Alfred Moore Jr. (April 16, 1923 – January 7, 2015) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from West Virginia. He began his political career as a state legislator in 1952. He was elected the 28th and 30th governor of West Virgi ...
(L 1951), 28th and 30th
Governor of West Virginia A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
(1969-77, 1985-89) and U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1957-1969) * Ephraim F. Morgan (L 1897), 16th
Governor of West Virginia A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
(1921-25) * Hunter Holmes Moss Jr. (L 1896), U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1913-16) * Matthew M. Neely (L 1902), U.S. Congressman (1913-21, 1945-47), 21st
Governor of West Virginia A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
(1941-45), U.S. Senator from
West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...
(1923-29, 1931-41, 1949-58) *
William Smith O'Brien William Smith O'Brien ( ga, Liam Mac Gabhann Ó Briain; 17 October 1803 – 18 June 1864) was an Irish nationalist Member of Parliament (MP) and a leader of the Young Ireland movement. He also encouraged the use of the Irish language. He ...
(L 1891), 17th
Secretary of State of West Virginia The Secretary of State of West Virginia is an elected office within the U.S. state of West Virginia state government. The secretary of state is responsible for overseeing the state's election process, including voter registration and election re ...
(1933-48), U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1927-29) *
Mario Palumbo Mario Joseph Palumbo (April 13, 1933 – July 4, 2004) was a Democratic politician from Kanawha County, West Virginia. Early life and education Palumbo was the son of the late Jack and Nancy Palumbo. He graduated cum laude from Morris Harvey ...
(L 1957), 32nd
Attorney General of West Virginia Attorney may refer to: * Lawyer ** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions * Attorney, one who has power of attorney * ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film See also * Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...
(1991-93) *
José Lorenzo Pesquera José Lorenzo Pesquera (August 10, 1882 – July 25, 1950) was a Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. Early life Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Pesquera was graduated from Provincial Institute of Puerto Rico in 1897. He attended the Keys ...
(L 1904),
Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico The resident commissioner of Puerto Rico () is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives elected by the voters of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico every four years, the only member of the House of Representatives ...
(1932-33) * William J. Powell (J.D. 1985), U.S. Attorney, United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (2017-2021) * Robert L. Ramsay (L 1901), U.S. Congressman from West Virginia (1933-39, 1941-43, 1949-53) * Stuart F. Reed (L 1889), 14th
Secretary of State of West Virginia The Secretary of State of West Virginia is an elected office within the U.S. state of West Virginia state government. The secretary of state is responsible for overseeing the state's election process, including voter registration and election re ...
(1909-17), Congressman from West Virginia (1917-25) * Richard A. Robinson (J.D. 1984), Chief Justice of
Connecticut Supreme Court The Connecticut Supreme Court, formerly known as the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, is the supreme court, highest court in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven justices sit in ...
(2013-) * Edgar P. Rucker (L 1887), 12th
Attorney General of West Virginia Attorney may refer to: * Lawyer ** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions * Attorney, one who has power of attorney * ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film See also * Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...
(1897-1901) * George M. Scott (L 1954), Justice, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (1999-2000) * Kai Scott (J.D. 1995), Judge,
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (in case citations, E.D. Pa.) is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789. It originally sat in Independence Hall in Phila ...
(2023-) *
Clyde See Clyde McNeill See Jr. (October 20, 1941 – April 6, 2017) was a West Virginia politician and lawyer. See served as Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1979 to 1985 and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of West Virginia ...
(J.D. 1970), 48th Speaker of
West Virginia House of Delegates The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates. Organization Regular sessions begin with ...
(1979-85) * Harley O. Staggers, Jr. (L 1977), U.S. Congressman from
West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...
(1983-93) *
Robert Jackson Staker Robert Jackson Staker (February 14, 1925 – November 30, 2008) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Education and career Staker was born in Kermit, West Virginia. ...
(L 1952), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1979-2005) * Larry Starcher (J.D. 1967), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(1997-2008) *
Stephanie Thacker Stephanie Dawn Thacker (née Young; born August 22, 1965) is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Early life and education Born Stephanie Dawn Young in Huntington, West Virginia, she was ...
(J.D. 1990), Judge,
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (in case citations, 4th Cir.) is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts: * District of Maryla ...
(2012-) * Rick Thompson (J.D. 1978), 52nd Speaker of
West Virginia House of Delegates The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates. Organization Regular sessions begin with ...
(2007-13) *
William S. Thompson William Stewart Thompson (born 1969) is the United States attorney for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia since 2021. From 2007 to 2021, he served as a judge on the Wes ...
(J.D. 1995), U.S. Attorney for the
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2021-) * Frank W. Volk (J.D. 1992), Judge,
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2019-) *
Mac Warner Andrew McCoy "Mac" Warner (born February 18, 1955) is an American attorney, veteran, and the current West Virginia Secretary of State. He announced his candidacy for Governor of West Virginia in 2024 on January 10, 2023. Early life and educatio ...
(J.D. 1982), 30th
Secretary of State of West Virginia The Secretary of State of West Virginia is an elected office within the U.S. state of West Virginia state government. The secretary of state is responsible for overseeing the state's election process, including voter registration and election re ...
(2017-) * Harry Evans Watkins (L 1923), Judge,
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (in case citations, N.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
and
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(1937-63) *
Kasey Warner Karl Kuldrian "Kasey" Warner II is an American attorney who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. Early life and education Kasey Warner graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1974 ...
(J.D. 1980), United States Attorney for the
Southern District of West Virginia The United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (in case citations, S.D. W. Va.) is a federal court in the Fourth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are ...
(2001-05) * William Wooton (J.D. 1971), Justice, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (2021-) *
Margaret Workman Margaret Lee Workman (born May 22, 1947) is an American lawyer and a former justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Her 1988 election to the Supreme Court made her the first woman elected to statewide office in West Virginia and ...
(J.D. 1974), Justice,
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of the state of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. The court sits primarily at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, although from 1873 ...
(1989-99, 2009-20) * Roderick C. Young (J.D. 1994), Judge,
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (in case citations, E.D. Va.) is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth of Virginia. It has jurisdiction over the Northern Virginia, Hampton Roa ...
(2020-)


References


External links

* {{authority control West Virginia University Educational institutions established in 1878 Law schools in West Virginia Education in Monongalia County, West Virginia 1878 establishments in West Virginia