--- title: "Heather Wood | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heather-wood-wv-family-brooke" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Heather Wood West Virginia Family Court, Brooke County · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Family Court, Brooke County - State: West Virginia - Role: Family Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge Heather A. Wood was appointed to the First Family Court Circuit in 2018 and was subsequently elected later that year, with a re-election in 2024, reflecting her continued service and community trust in her judicial role. - Worked in the First Circuit Public Defender Office in Wheeling beginning in 1996, then joined Frankovitch, Anetakis, Colantonio and Simon in Weirton in 2000, practicing family law, bankruptcy and civil litigation. - After law school, she held the role of a public defender at the First Judicial Circuit Public Defender Corporation in Wheeling, West Virginia, starting in 1996. - She also held a limited license to practice law while in school and worked at the Tulsa County Public Defender’s office ### Education ### Additional information - Appointment in 2018, election later that year, and reelection in 2024. - In 2000, she joined the law firm Frankovitch, Anetakis, Colantonio & Simon in Weirton, West Virginia, where she practiced family law, bankruptcy, and general civil litigation. - Judge Wood earned her bachelor’s degree with departmental honors from the University of New Mexico in 1991 and graduated from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1996. - Family court judge in the First Family Circuit covering Brooke, Hancock and Ohio counties. - She presides over family law cases including divorce, annulments, paternity, visitation, and parental responsibility matters, except for cases involving child abuse and neglect. - During law school, she was a member of the Order of the Barristers, participated in NITA and ATLA Moot Court trial teams, and received awards such as the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Evidence Workshop and the Oklahoma Trial Handbook Award. - In law school she participated in trial advocacy teams and received advocacy and evidence honors. - She has also coached and refereed soccer and served on its local board. - Beyond her legal career, Judge Wood has been actively involved in youth soccer in the Upper Ohio Valley, serving as a coach, referee, and board member of a local soccer league. - She resides in Weirton, West Virginia, with her husband, Jack, and their two children. ## 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/circuit-judges/heatherWood) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/heatherWood) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/heatherWood) - [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) - [heatherWood](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/heatherWood) - [West Virginia Judiciary Brooke County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/brooke_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Hancock County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/hancock_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Ohio County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/ohio_county) - [heatherWood](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/heatherWood) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heather-wood-wv-family-brooke", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heather-wood-wv-family-brooke", "name": "Heather Wood | KnowJudges", "description": "Heather Wood, West Virginia Family Court, Brooke County. 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