---
title: "Donald W. Harris | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-w-harris-wv-magistrate-wetzel"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Donald W. Harris

West Virginia Magistrate Court, Wetzel County · Magistrate

## Profile

- Court: West Virginia Magistrate Court, Wetzel County
- State: West Virginia
- Role: Magistrate
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Magistrate judge in the Wetzel County Magistrate Court in West Virginia, with prior judicial and law enforcement experience in the region
- Magistrate judge for the Wetzel County Magistrate Court in New Martinsville, West Virginia
- The Wetzel County judge’s background and current role are as described above
- held the role of a judge in the Paden City Municipal Court (Wetzel County)
- While there is also a Don Harris serving as a judge on Montana’s 13th Judicial District Court, that is a different individual

### Education


### Additional information

- Magistrates in this court handle certain criminal matters and small claims cases at the county level.
- His term is four years, and he is listed alongside Magistrate Roger Spragg.
- It also describes child-abuse and sexual-assault investigative work, a federal violent-crimes task-force assignment and K-9 instructional work.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### camera and audio equipment

Scope: statewide

West Virginia Trial Court Rule 8 makes courtroom camera and audio equipment subject to the presiding circuit judge's or magistrate's permission.

Evidence excerpt: 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](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents)
Source checked: 2026-07-27

### advance media request timing

Scope: 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.

Evidence excerpt: 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](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents)
Source checked: 2026-07-27


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/wetzel_county)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/wetzel_county)
- [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/wetzel_county)
- [West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents)
- [West Virginia Judiciary Wetzel County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/wetzel_county)
- [www.wetzelchronicle.com](https://www.wetzelchronicle.com/news/local-headlines/2020/02/26/long-time-law-enforcement-officer-to-run-for-magistrate/)
- [www.wetzelcountywv.gov](https://www.wetzelcountywv.gov/county-magistrates)

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## 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.