Kenneth D. Ballard at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Kenneth D. Ballard
Circuit Judge · West Virginia Circuit Court, Kanawha County
Biography
Professional career
- Kenneth D. Ballard is a judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court (Kanawha County, West Virginia), appointed in 2021, elected in 2022, and re‐elected in 2024
- Appointed by former Governor Jim Justice on April 26, 2021 to replace Hon. Tod J. Kaufman
- Before his circuit court appointment, Ballard was Chief Kanawha County Family Court Judge from 2010 to 2021.
- Public Service: Kanawha County Mental Hygiene Commissioner (2006–2008)
- Legal Practice: Partner at Bickley & Jacobs; opened solo practice in Charleston in 2004
Education
- B.A. in Chemistry, Marshall University (1997) J.D., University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law (2001), magna cum laude, Associate Editor of the Law Review
- Bachelor's degree, Chemistry from Marshall University in 1997
Additional information
- He was elected to a full term in 2022 and re‐elected in 2024.
- Appointed to the Kanawha County circuit bench April 26, 2021.
- He also held the role of Kanawha County Juvenile Drug Court Judge and was President of the Family Court Judges Association in 2013 and 2017.
- Kenneth D. Ballard was elected to the Kanawha County Family Court bench in 2008 and re-elected in 2016.
- Opened private practice in 2004
- Early Career: Environmental scientist for Roy F. Weston (1997–1998)
- Judge Ballard was born in 1974, raised in Charleston, WV, and is married to Allison Ballard with three children.
- Birth year: 1974
- focusing on family law, abuse/neglect, guardian ad litem and criminal matters.
- Earlier career experience includes environmental scientist, Roy F. Weston, for one year after college; attorney, Bickley & Jacobs in Charleston.
- Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Kanawha County, which includes Charleston and surrounding areas.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings
West Virginia Circuit Court, Kanawha County
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-27Sources
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 Kanawha County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Kanawha County directory ↗Judge Kenneth D. Ballard
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Judge Kenneth D. Ballard ↗