Debra McLaughlin at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Debra McLaughlin
Circuit Judge · West Virginia Circuit Court, Berkeley County
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Debra McLaughlin was appointed to the circuit court bench in August 2017 and has been re-elected and re-appointed multiple times, most recently in 2024 for the Twenty-Seventh Judicial Circuit, which includes Berkeley and Morgan Counties in West Virginia
- Maintained a litigation practice while serving as a part-time Assistant Prosecutor in Morgan County
- Judge McLaughlin’s combination of extensive prosecutorial experience, judicial service, and community involvement makes her a prominent figure in Morgan County and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
- She has been a Rotarian in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties, serves on the Finance Counsel of St. Peters Catholic Church in Maryland, and has contributed to the Court Appointed Special Advocates’ Board of Directors
- Helped establish Teen Court at Berkeley Springs High School while serving as prosecutor
Education
- University of Kansas School of Law in — J.D. (1993)
Additional information
- She has lived in West Virginia since 1999 and continues to be deeply involved in both her professional and local communities.
- Elected in May 2020 and re-elected in 2024.
- Re-appointed in March 2019.
- Appointed to the Twenty-Seventh Judicial Circuit in August 2017 and served through May 2018.
- Earlier career experience includes practiced at Bochetto & Lentz in Philadelphia and Katherman & Heim in York, Pennsylvania; joined Harmison & Savasten in Berkeley Springs in 1999.
- She began her legal career in Pennsylvania at the law firms Bochetto & Lentz and Katherman & Heim, before moving to West Virginia in 1999, where she joined Harmison & Savasten in Berkeley Springs.
- Judge McLaughlin obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology with a concentration in criminal justice from St. Francis University in 1990, graduating from the Honors Program.
- Served 15 years as Morgan County Prosecuting Attorney before appointment to the circuit court.
- Beyond her judicial duties, Judge McLaughlin is active in the community.
- She previously served 15 years as Morgan County Prosecuting Attorney, giving her a strong background in criminal law before transitioning to the judiciary.
- After her appointment to the circuit court, Judge McLaughlin has been involved in both criminal and civil cases, bringing a unique prosecutorial perspective to the bench, complementing colleagues with civil law backgrounds.
- She has also been active in community programs, including Teen Court at Berkeley Springs High School, which she helped establish during her tenure as Prosecuting Attorney.
- Judge McLaughlin has been married to her husband, Kevin, an emergency room physician, for over 30 years, and they have three adult children.
- She has also coached and led the Morgan County Soccer League, reflecting her commitment to youth and community engagement.
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, Berkeley County; West Virginia Circuit Court, Morgan 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 Berkeley County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Berkeley County directory ↗West Virginia Judiciary Morgan County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Morgan County directory ↗Judge Debra McLaughlin
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Judge Debra McLaughlin ↗