--- title: "Kenneth D. Ballard | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-d-ballard-wv-circuit-kanawha" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Kenneth D. Ballard West Virginia Circuit Court, Kanawha County · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Circuit Court, Kanawha County - State: West Virginia - Role: Circuit Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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. ## 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/kennethBallard) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/kennethBallard) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/kennethBallard) - [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 Kenneth D. Ballard](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/kennethBallard) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-d-ballard-wv-circuit-kanawha", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-d-ballard-wv-circuit-kanawha", "name": "Kenneth D. Ballard | KnowJudges", "description": "Kenneth D. Ballard, West Virginia Circuit Court, Kanawha 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/kenneth-d-ballard-wv-circuit-kanawha#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-d-ballard-wv-circuit-kanawha#judge", "name": "Kenneth D. 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Ballard", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kenneth-d-ballard-wv-circuit-kanawha" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7bfc4ba5831cb3f30a5d65ca) — 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](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents). Collected 2026-07-27.