--- title: "Joyce Helmick Carpenter | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joyce-helmick-carpenter-wv-family-braxton" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Joyce Helmick Carpenter West Virginia Family Court, Braxton County · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Family Court, Braxton 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 - Her daughter, Jasmine R. H. Morton, was elected in 2024 as a circuit judge for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit (Braxton, Clay, Gilmer, and Webster Counties) - Judge Joyce Helmick Carpenter serves on the Twenty-Seventh Family Court Circuit, covering Braxton, Pocahontas, and Webster Counties in West Virginia, and was re‐elected in 2024. - Earlier career experience includes private practice with Ernest V. "Jack" Morton, 1980-1989; attorney, VanNostrand & Morton, PLLC, 1990-2012 ### Education - West Virginia University College of Law in — J.D. (1980) - Bachelor's degree, History from Glenville State College in 1977 - in History — Glenville State College — B.A. (1977) ### Additional information - She was first elected to the bench in 2016 and re‐elected in 2024. - Elected to the Twenty-Seventh Family Court Circuit in 2016. - Solo practitioner, 2013 until taking the bench. - She held the role of general counsel for the Milan Puskar Trust (2011–2012) and maintained a solo practice from 2013 until her election to the bench. - “Jack” Morton (1980–1989) and later worked at VanNostrand & Morton, PLLC (1990–2012). - West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow, 2005. - Judge Carpenter presides over family court cases in the Twenty-Seventh Family Court Circuit, which includes Braxton, Pocahontas, and Webster Counties. - Judge Carpenter is a native of Gilmer County and resides in Webster Springs with her husband, Michael Ray Carpenter. - They have seven children and 16 grandchildren. - Former member of the West Virginia State Bar Board of Governors. - Served on the Lawyer Disciplinary Board and as vice-chair for one year. ## 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/family-judges/joyceMorton) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/family-judges/joyceMorton) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/family-judges/joyceMorton) - [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 Braxton County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/braxton_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Pocahontas County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/pocahontas_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Webster County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/webster_county) - [Judge Joyce Helmick Carpenter](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/family-judges/joyceMorton) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joyce-helmick-carpenter-wv-family-braxton", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joyce-helmick-carpenter-wv-family-braxton", "name": "Joyce Helmick Carpenter | KnowJudges", "description": "Joyce Helmick Carpenter, West Virginia Family Court, Braxton County. 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