--- title: "Laura V. Faircloth | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/laura-v-faircloth-wv-circuit-berkeley" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Laura V. Faircloth West Virginia Circuit Court, Berkeley County · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Circuit Court, Berkeley 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 - 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. ## 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/lauraFaircloth) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/lauraFaircloth) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/lauraFaircloth) - [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 Berkeley County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/berkeley_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Morgan County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/morgan_county) - [Judge Laura V. Faircloth](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/lauraFaircloth) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/laura-v-faircloth-wv-circuit-berkeley", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/laura-v-faircloth-wv-circuit-berkeley", "name": "Laura V. Faircloth | KnowJudges", "description": "Laura V. Faircloth, West Virginia Circuit Court, Berkeley 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/laura-v-faircloth-wv-circuit-berkeley#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/laura-v-faircloth-wv-circuit-berkeley#judge", "name": "Laura V. 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