--- title: "Joseph L. Mendez | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-l-mendez-wv-magistrate-logan" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Joseph L. Mendez West Virginia Magistrate Court, Logan County · Magistrate ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Magistrate Court, Logan 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 - Elected Magistrate Court Judge for Logan County, West Virginia, serving since 2016 and notable for presiding over a wide range of cases without holding a law degree - Logan County Magistrate Court Judge, a position he won in the 2016 general election, defeating incumbent Steven Gray and challenger Estel Murray - Mendez is notable because he is not a lawyer and has no undergraduate or law degree ### Education ### Additional information - In West Virginia, the state constitution prohibits requiring magistrates to be attorneys, and as of 2022, only seven of 169 magistrates were lawyers. - First election in 2016 and election as president of the West Virginia Magistrates Association in May 2022. - His term is four years, and magistrates in West Virginia are elected by the community every four years. - Joseph L. Mendez is identified as a Logan County magistrate. - He took some criminal justice classes in college, previously held a position as an assistant movie theater manager, and before that was a punk rocker. ## 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/logan_county) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/logan_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/logan_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 Logan County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/logan_county) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Joe_Mendez) - [apps.sos.wv.gov](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/Officials/Home/Details/7a525c06-9aa1-4de4-8b8e-9a9f73d49959) - [www.wvowradio.com](https://www.wvowradio.com/post/mendez-elected-president-of-wva-magistrates-association) - [goodparty.org](https://goodparty.org/people/joe-mendez-297edbb5) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-l-mendez-wv-magistrate-logan", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-l-mendez-wv-magistrate-logan", "name": "Joseph L. Mendez | KnowJudges", "description": "Joseph L. Mendez, West Virginia Magistrate Court, Logan County. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-l-mendez-wv-magistrate-logan#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-l-mendez-wv-magistrate-logan#judge", "name": "Joseph L. 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Mendez", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-l-mendez-wv-magistrate-logan" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.