Joe Shaffer at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Joe Shaffer
Circuit Judge · West Virginia Circuit Court, Harrison County
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Joseph F. Shaffer, Jr. is the elected judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit (Harrison County, WV), taking office January 1, 2025 after being elected in May 2024.
- He later became a partner at Shaffer Madia Law, PLLC (2015–2024)
- Harrison County prosecuting attorney, 2003–2015; and Shaffer Madia Law partner, 2015–2024
- He held the role of Clarksburg Police civil service commissioner, 1998–2003, and Fire Department civil service commissioner, 2019–2024
- Began his legal career in Clarksburg in 1995 as an associate at the Law Office of Scot Dieringer, later practicing solo at Shaffer Law Office (1997–2003)
- Associate at Scot Dieringer’s law office, 1995–1997; solo practitioner at Shaffer Law Office, 1997–2003
- 12 years as Harrison County Prosecutor
- Service as general counsel to the Harrison County Commission, achieving over $100,000/year in savings
Education
- Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Western Michigan University) — J.D. (1994)
- in Business and Economics — Fairmont State College — B.A. (1982)
Additional information
- His term runs until May 14, 2032.
- Joseph F. Shaffer, Jr. was elected in May 2024 to the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Harrison County, and took office January 1, 2025.
- Admitted to the West Virginia Bar in 1995
- Born and raised in Clarksburg, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in business and economics at Fairmont State College in 1982 and a law degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1994.
- City attorney for Lumberport, Lost Creek, Shinnston, and Stonewood
- handling serious criminal and homicide cases, child abuse/neglect cases, and mass tort/class action litigation
- 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Harrison County, West Virginia, presiding over civil and criminal cases in the county.
- Former municipal attorney for Lumberport, Lost Creek, Shinnston, and Stonewood; former YMCA and Jerry West Youth Basketball League board member and coach.
- He is married to Suzanne C. Shaffer, a retired elementary school teacher, and they have two adult daughters.
- Born and raised in Clarksburg, Shaffer attended Notre Dame High School.
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, Harrison 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 Harrison County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Harrison County directory ↗