--- title: "Michael W. Asbury Jr | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-w-asbury-jr-wv-circuit-braxton" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Michael W. Asbury Jr West Virginia Circuit Court, Braxton County · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Circuit Court, Braxton 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 - Judge Michael W. Asbury Jr. serves on the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia, covering Braxton, Clay, Gilmer, and Webster counties, and was elected to an eight‐year term in 2024 that began January 1, 2025 - Governor Jim Justice appointed Clay County Attorney Michael W. Asbury Jr. to the bench in August 2023, filling the seat of retired Judge Richard A. Facemire - Governor Justice appointed August2023 to then-Fourteenth Circuit ### Education - West Virginia University College of Law in — J.D. (2005) - Bachelor's degree from West Virginia State University in 2002 ### Additional information - Elected in May 2024 to an eight-year term beginning January 1, 2025. - Subsequently elected in May 2024 to an eight‐year term starting January 1, 2025. - Elected May2024 to eight-year term beginning January1,2025. - Appointed to the circuit bench in August 2023. - West Virginia University College of Law2005. - 1993 graduate of Clay County High School, a 2002 graduate of West Virginia State University, and a 2005 graduate of West Virginia University College of Law. - West Virginia State University2002 - Clay County High School1993 - Before joining the judiciary, Asbury owned his own law practice in Clay County, serving clients throughout central West Virginia. - Earlier career experience includes owned a private law practice in Clay County and served clients throughout central West Virginia before appointment. - Asbury presides over the Clay County Courthouse, 246 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Clay, WV 25043. - Owned Clay County law practice serving centralWV before appointment. - Clay County native - He has also served on the Legislative, Education, and Re‐Alignment Committees of the West Virginia Judicial Association. - WV Judicial Association Legislative, Education, Re-Alignment committees. - Direct official biography: Michael W. Asbury Jr, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Braxton/Clay/Gilmer/Webster. ## 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/michaelAsbury) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/michaelAsbury) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/michaelAsbury) - [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 Braxton County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/braxton_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Clay County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/clay_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Gilmer County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/gilmer_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Webster County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/webster_county) - [Judge Michael W. Asbury Jr.](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/michaelAsbury) - [www.courtswv.gov](https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2023-11/sept12b_23.pdf) - [governorjustice.wv.gov](https://governorjustice.wv.gov/News/press-releases/2023/Pages/Gov.-Justice-appoints-Michael-Asbury-as-judge-for-the-Fourteenth-Judicial-Circuit-Court-serving-Braxton,-Clay,-Gilmer,-and-.aspx) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-w-asbury-jr-wv-circuit-braxton", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-w-asbury-jr-wv-circuit-braxton", "name": "Michael W. Asbury Jr | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael W. Asbury Jr, West Virginia Circuit Court, Braxton County. 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