Karen Hill Johnson at a glance
- Current role
- Family Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Karen Hill Johnson
Family Court Judge · West Virginia Family Court, Barbour County
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Karen Hill Johnson is the elected judge of the Twenty‐First Family Court Circuit, covering Barbour and Taylor counties in West Virginia, serving since 2016 and re‐elected in 2024.
Education
- B.A. in Business Management and Marketing, Fairmont State College (2001) J.D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Michigan (2005)
Additional information
- Elected in 2016 and reelected in 2024, she took office in September 2016 after Governor Earl Ray Tomblin appointed her to a resignation vacancy.
- Appointed in September 2016 to fill the predecessor's vacancy before beginning the elected term.
- She was appointed in September 2016 to fill a vacancy created by her predecessor’s resignation, and later won the 2016 general election for the seat, defeating Robert Gorey Jr. with 77.8% of the vote.
- She grew up in Belington, graduated Phillip Barbour High School in 1988, obtained a Fairmont State College business management and marketing bachelor’s degree in 2001 and Thomas M. Cooley law degree in 2005.
- Early life: Grew up in Belington, WV; graduated from Phillip Barbour High School in 1988.
- Earlier career experience includes solo practitioner focused on representation of indigent clients and juveniles; extensive guardian ad litem practice in family court and child abuse/neglect proceedings.
- Judge Johnson presides over the Twenty‐First Family Court Circuit, which includes Barbour and Taylor counties.
- Legal career before judgeship: Solo practitioner focusing on representing indigent clients and juveniles, and serving as guardian ad litem in family court and child abuse/neglect cases.
- Judge Johnson is married to Jim Johnson and has one son and two grandchildren.
- Earlier a solo practitioner representing indigent clients and juveniles, particularly guardian ad litem work in family and child abuse and neglect proceedings.
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 ↗
Sources
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 Barbour County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Barbour County directory ↗West Virginia Judiciary Taylor County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Taylor County directory ↗Judge Karen Hill Johnson
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Judge Karen Hill Johnson ↗