--- title: "Karen Hill Johnson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-hill-johnson-wv-family-barbour" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Karen Hill Johnson West Virginia Family Court, Barbour County · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Family Court, Barbour 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 - 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. ## 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/karenJohnson) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/family-judges/karenJohnson) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/family-judges/karenJohnson) - [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 Barbour County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/barbour_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Taylor County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/taylor_county) - [Judge Karen Hill Johnson](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/family-judges/karenJohnson) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Karen_Hill_Johnson) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-hill-johnson-wv-family-barbour", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-hill-johnson-wv-family-barbour", "name": "Karen Hill Johnson | KnowJudges", "description": "Karen Hill Johnson, West Virginia Family Court, Barbour 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/karen-hill-johnson-wv-family-barbour#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-hill-johnson-wv-family-barbour#judge", "name": "Karen Hill Johnson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-hill-johnson-wv-family-barbour", "jobTitle": "Family Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "West Virginia Family Court, Barbour County" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/family-judges/karenJohnson" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Fairmont State College" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Thomas M. Cooley Law School" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "West Virginia", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/west-virginia" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karen Hill Johnson", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/karen-hill-johnson-wv-family-barbour" } ] } ] } ```