Laura V. Faircloth at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Laura V. Faircloth
Circuit Judge · West Virginia Circuit Court, Berkeley County
Biography
Professional career
- Partner at Preiser, Tabor, Lindsey & Coltelli
- Earlier associate positions included Askin, Pill, Scales & Burke
- Her career reflects a dedication to civil trial law, leadership in the legal community, and a commitment to ensuring justice is accessible to all residents of West Virginia
- Her legal career included her own Martinsburg practice, a partnership at Preiser, Tabor, Lindsey & Coltelli, and earlier associate positions at several firms
Education
- Faircloth earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with honors from Shepherd College in 1981 and a J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1984.
Additional information
- She has been board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in civil trial work and pretrial practice since 1989, a distinction held by a small percentage of practicing lawyers.
- Served in this role while also running in a special election for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in May 2026, though she was not elected.
- Re-elected in 2024 to the new Twenty-Seventh Judicial Circuit, Berkeley and Morgan Counties.
- Laura Faircloth was first elected to the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit in 2016, covering Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan counties, and was re-elected in 2024 to the newly formed Twenty-Seventh Judicial Circuit, which includes Berkeley and Morgan counties.
- First elected to the circuit bench in 2016, she was re-elected in 2024 to the Twenty-Seventh Judicial Circuit serving Berkeley and Morgan counties.
- Elected in 2016 to a new seat in the then-Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit.
- Faircloth has held numerous leadership roles, including President of the Berkeley County Bar (1990-91), President of the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (1996), and membership on the Board of Governors for the Young Lawyers Section of the West Virginia State Bar (1988-91).
- Past president of the Berkeley County Bar, 1990-1991.
- Former member of the Board of Governors for the Young Lawyers Section of the West Virginia State Bar, 1988-1991.
- Laura V. Faircloth, a Berkeley County native, graduated with honors from Shepherd College in 1981 with a political science degree
- A fifth-generation native of Berkeley County, Faircloth was raised on her family farm in Martinsburg and graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1976.
- Led the Law Offices of Laura Faircloth in Martinsburg before election to the bench.
- Martin and Seibert; and Lewis, Ciccarello, Masinter & Friedberg.
- Faircloth has emphasized a commitment to ensuring that all individuals entering her courtroom are treated with dignity and fairness.
- Judge Laura V. Faircloth combines extensive legal expertise, judicial experience, and community involvement.
- Before her judicial service, she led the Law Offices of Laura Faircloth and Associates in Martinsburg and previously held a position as a partner and associate in several multi-state and local law firms.
- She has provided pro bono legal services to the Berkeley County Volunteer Fire Departments, the Berkeley County Historical Society, and the Berkeley County Farm Bureau.
- She is a lifetime member of the Berkeley County Historical Society, Girl Scouts of America, and the National Rifle Association, and supports the Children’s Miracle Network.
- She is married to the late Larry Faircloth, a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, and has two children.
- Her deep roots in the region inform her judicial philosophy, emphasizing accessibility, fairness, and community service.
- She has held leadership roles in county and statewide bar organizations.
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, Berkeley County; West Virginia Circuit Court, Morgan 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 Berkeley County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Berkeley County directory ↗West Virginia Judiciary Morgan County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Morgan County directory ↗Judge Laura V. Faircloth
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Judge Laura V. Faircloth ↗