---
title: "Brian Cochran | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-cochran-wv-circuit"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Brian Cochran

West Virginia Circuit Court, Mercer County · Circuit Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: West Virginia Circuit Court, Mercer County
- State: West Virginia
- Role: Circuit Court Judge
- Service status: active

## Summary

Brian Cochran — West Virginia Circuit Court, Mercer County

## Biography

### Professional career

- Brian Keith Cochran is identified as a Mercer County circuit judge appointed January 13, 2026 to replace retiring Judge William J. Sadler
- In January 2026, Governor Patrick Morrisey appointed Cochran to the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Mercer County, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge William J. Sadler
- In 2020, he became the Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney
- Earlier roles include state police trooper, private-practice associate, Bluefield city attorney and Mercer County prosecuting attorney beginning in 2020
- This extensive experience provided him with a strong foundation in criminal justice and public safety
- His appointment and election reflect his extensive courtroom experience and commitment to justice

### Education

- He later earned his Juris Doctor from the Appalachian School of Law and was admitted to the West Virginia State Bar in 2007.
- Grafton High School graduation in 1987, criminal justice and liberal arts studies at Fairmont State College, Marshall University and Glenville State College, a JD from Appalachian School of Law, and West Virginia bar admission in 2007.

### Additional information

- He graduated from Grafton High School in 1987 and pursued higher education across multiple institutions, earning degrees in criminal justice and liberal arts from Fairmont State College, Marshall University, and Glenville State College.
- Cochran transitioned into law after his law degree, working as an associate attorney in the private sector and serving as city attorney for Bluefield, West Virginia.
- representing individuals, businesses, municipalities, and governmental entities across West Virginia.
- Before entering the legal profession, Cochran spent over 16 years in law enforcement, serving as a city police officer, deputy sheriff, and West Virginia State Trooper.
- Subsequently sworn in as a Circuit Court Judge and later won the Mercer County Circuit Court election outright, defeating Family Court Judge Adam Wolfe in the May primary.
- Brian Keith Cochran is a lifelong West Virginian, born and raised in Grafton, West Virginia.
- Cochran maintains strong ties to his hometown of Grafton, often visiting family and expressing pride in his West Virginian roots.

## Sources

- [West Virginia Judiciary Mercer County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/mercer_county)
- [www.wvnews.com](https://www.wvnews.com/mountainstatesman/grafton-native-brian-cochran-named-mercer-county-circuit-court-judge/article_fdb6ae2e-e94b-4248-b24d-6acf13c20643.html)
- [www.wvbarassociation.org](https://www.wvbarassociation.org/news/news.asp?id=718003)
- [www.publicnow.com](https://www.publicnow.com/view/6D7C709B27C525B7D2966E861368ED80EB0D7615)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-cochran-wv-circuit",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-cochran-wv-circuit",
      "name": "Brian Cochran | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Brian Cochran, West Virginia Circuit Court, Mercer County. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-cochran-wv-circuit#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-cochran-wv-circuit#judge",
      "name": "Brian Cochran",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-cochran-wv-circuit",
      "jobTitle": "Circuit Court Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "West Virginia Circuit Court, Mercer County"
      },
      "sameAs": []
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "West Virginia",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/west-virginia"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Brian Cochran",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/brian-cochran-wv-circuit"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```


## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7bfc4ba5831cb3f30a5d65ca) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents). Collected 2026-07-27.