David M. Hammer at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
David M. Hammer
Circuit Judge · West Virginia Circuit Court, Jefferson County
Biography
Professional career
- Chief Judge, Twenty‐Eighth Judicial Circuit (Jefferson County) — elected May 2024 to a term through May 2032
- Previously Supervising Judge of Jefferson County until January 1, 2025
- He supervised Jefferson County until January 1, 2025, when he became chief judge of the new Twenty-Eighth Judicial Circuit
- Legal Practice: Partner at Hammer, Ferretti & Schiavoni (1992–2018)
- Earlier career experience includes co-founded Hammer, Ferretti & Schiavoni in 1992 and practiced there until election to the bench in 2018; practice focused primarily on employment law, wage and hour law, and municipal law
Education
- College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law in — J.D. (1988)
- Bachelor's degree from Temple University in 1985
- Temple University — B.A. (1985)
Additional information
- Re-elected in May 2024.
- Judicial Service: Elected to the bench in 2018 to fill a vacancy; re‐elected in 2024.
- David M. Hammer was elected in May 2018 to fill an unexpired judicial term and reelected in May 2024.
- Elected in May 2018 to fill an unexpired circuit-court term.
- He cofounded Hammer, Ferretti & Schiavoni in 1992 and practiced there until his 2018 election, concentrating on employment, wage-and-hour and municipal law.
- focusing on employment law, wage and hour, and municipal law.
- Public Service: President, West Virginia Employment Lawyers
- Co‐drafted the West Virginia Voluntary Farmland Protection Act; served on the West Virginia Agricultural Land Protection Authority.
- Current statutory representative on the West Virginia Investment Management Board.
- Has sat by temporary assignment on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
- handling complex business disputes statewide.
- Supervises the Jefferson County Adult Treatment Court, meeting weekly with participants to address substance use disorders and recovery.
- Has been temporarily assigned to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals when justices recuse themselves.
- He has been president and amicus committee chair of West Virginia Employment Lawyers and the West Virginia Association of Justice.
- He has presented legal symposia on employment, class-action and evidentiary topics.
- Judge Hammer and his wife, Effie, reside in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and have three children.
- Judge David M. Hammer is the Chief Judge of West Virginia’s new Twenty‐Eighth Judicial Circuit (Jefferson County) and a member of the West Virginia Business Court, with a career in law, judicial service, and public policy leadership.
- He serves on the West Virginia Business Court, supervises Jefferson County Adult Treatment Court and has sat temporarily on the Supreme Court of Appeals.
- He codrafted the Voluntary Farmland Protection Act, served on the Agricultural Land Protection Authority by Governor Tomblin’s appointment and serves as a statutory representative on the Investment Management Board.
- Former president of the West Virginia Employment Lawyers Association.
- Co-drafter of the West Virginia Voluntary Farmland Protection Act.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Camera And Audio Equipment
Statewide
West Virginia Trial Court Rule 8 makes courtroom camera and audio equipment subject to the presiding circuit judge's or magistrate's permission.
Cameras and audio equipment may be permitted in and around the courtrooms at the discretion of each presiding circuit judge or magistrate.West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings ↗
Advance Media Request Timing
Statewide
West Virginia Trial Court Rule 8 directs the presiding officer to decide requests for camera or audio coverage made at least one day before the proceeding, and lack of advance approval may preclude use.
Requests made by a party or any other person at least one day in advance of the proceedings.West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings
West Virginia Circuit Court, Jefferson County
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-27Sources
Identity source checked July 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster ↗West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings ↗West Virginia Judiciary Jefferson County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Jefferson County directory ↗Judge David M. Hammer
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Judge David M. Hammer ↗