--- title: "Hilary Bright | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/hilary-bright-wv-circuit-preston" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Hilary Bright West Virginia Circuit Court, Preston County · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Circuit Court, Preston County - State: West Virginia - Role: Circuit 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 Hilary M. Bright is the elected Circuit Court Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit (Preston and Tucker Counties), taking office January 1, 2025 - Mental Hygiene Commissioner for Preston County, 2019-2024 - In March 2019, she opened The Bright Law Firm, PLLC, expanding her practice to include abuse and neglect cases - Earlier career experience includes attorney at McNeer, Highland, McMunn and Varner, LC in Kingwood, 2014-March 2019, practicing civil litigation, domestic relations, estate planning and real estate; founded The Bright Law Firm, PLLC in 2019 and expanded her practice to include abuse and neglect cases ### Education - West Virginia University College of Law — J.D. (2014) - Undergraduate: Alderson Broaddus College, B.A. in Political Science and History, 2011 ### Additional information - Elected to the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Preston and Tucker Counties, and took office January 1, 2025 - District 15 representative for the Young Lawyers’ Section of the West Virginia State Bar (2018–2022) - Former Preston High School track and field coach (2018–2019) - Preston High School, 2007 - Over nearly a decade as an attorney, Judge Bright has handled civil, criminal, family, and abuse/neglect matters, litigating in Family Court, Magistrate Court, Circuit Court, and federal court - Bench for the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, covering Preston and Tucker Counties in West Virginia - Based at the Preston County Courthouse in Kingwood, WV - She has represented both plaintiffs and defendants, and has experience in diverse case types - Judge Bright resides in Preston County with her husband, Matthew, and their two children - Raised in: Terra Alta, West Virginia - handling civil litigation, domestic relations, estate planning, and real estate transactions - Active in Rotary Club of Kingwood and youth agricultural programs - She has a farming background and is a strong supporter of local agricultural and educational programs ## 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/judge-hilary-bright) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/judge-hilary-bright) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/judge-hilary-bright) - [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 Preston County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/preston_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Tucker County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/tucker_county) - [Judge Hilary M. Bright](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/judge-hilary-bright) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/hilary-bright-wv-circuit-preston", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/hilary-bright-wv-circuit-preston", "name": "Hilary Bright | KnowJudges", "description": "Hilary Bright, West Virginia Circuit Court, Preston County. 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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.