--- title: "Kelly Pritt | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kelly-pritt-wv-family-kanawha" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Kelly Pritt West Virginia Family Court, Kanawha County · Family Court Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Family Court, Kanawha 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 practice since 2006 included family law, adoption, child abuse and neglect, criminal defense, real estate transactions and estate planning. - The elected Family Court Judge for West Virginia’s Eleventh Family Court Circuit (Kanawha County), sworn in January 1, 2025, after winning the May 2024 primary election. ### Education - B.A. in Political Science, Niagara University (2003) J.D., Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law (2006) - A Buffalo, New York native, she obtained a Niagara University political science bachelor’s degree in 2003 and Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law degree in 2006. ### Additional information - Legal Experience: Practicing family law since 2006, with a background in adoptions, child welfare, criminal defense, real estate transactions, and estate planning. - Her term runs until May 14, 2032. - Elected in the May 2024 West Virginia Primary Election and officially sworn in on January 1, 2025. - Elected in May 2024 to the Eleventh Family Court Circuit, Kanawha County, and took office January 1, 2025. - Earlier career experience includes practiced family law beginning in 2006, including adoptions, abuse/neglect, criminal defense, real estate and estate planning. - Judge Pritt presides over family law cases in Kanawha County, which is the state’s 11th Family Court Circuit. - Her courtroom is located at the Kanawha County Judicial Building, 111 Court Street, Suite 2, Charleston, WV. - She handles matters such as adoptions, child abuse and neglect cases, divorce, custody, and other family law issues. - Judge Pritt is a native of Buffalo, New York, and lives in Charleston, WV, with her husband, Republican Delegate Chris Pritt, and their two sons. - Professional Focus: She has stated her goal is to bring fairness and calmness to family court cases, and has said she has wanted to be a lawyer in family court since childhood. ## 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/circuit-judges/judge-kelly-pritt) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/judge-kelly-pritt) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/judge-kelly-pritt) - [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 Kanawha County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/kanawha_county) - [Judge Kelly Pritt](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/judge-kelly-pritt) - [www.wowktv.com](https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/kanawha-county-wv/pritt-sworn-in-as-kanawha-county-family-court-judge/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kelly-pritt-wv-family-kanawha", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kelly-pritt-wv-family-kanawha", "name": "Kelly Pritt | KnowJudges", "description": "Kelly Pritt, West Virginia Family Court, Kanawha County. 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