--- title: "Michelle Heaton | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michelle-heaton-wv-magistrate-brooke" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Michelle Heaton West Virginia Magistrate Court, Brooke County · Magistrate ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Magistrate Court, Brooke County - State: West Virginia - Role: Magistrate - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - The incumbent Brooke County Magistrate Judge for Division 2 in West Virginia, serving a two‐year term from 2026 to 2028, and is running for re‐election in the 2026 primary - While her official priorities and accomplishments are not yet published in the profile, her role involves serving the community through the justice system ### Education ### Additional information - Direct : Michelle Heaton Brooke County Magistrate Division2,2025–present - Her term runs through May 14, 2028. - Candidate for re‐election in the May 12, 2026 West Virginia primary. - Appointed to the role in December 2025 to complete the term of Robert Catrell, who resigned, and will be required to seek election in the 2026 primary. - Brooke County Prosecutors office assistant2017–2025;2026 candidacy. - She is a 2003 graduate of Brooke High School and pursued a paralegal degree before her judicial appointment. - Like other magistrates, she completed two weeks of training through the West Virginia Supreme Court before assuming her role. - Heaton holds the position of Brooke County Magistrate Judge – Division 2, a judicial role handling various civil and criminal matters at the magistrate level. - Listed as nonpartisan in official voter guides. - Before becoming magistrate, Heaton spent eight years in the Brooke County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where she held the role of office manager and administrative assistant. - These extra claims not directly verified. ## 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/brooke_county) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/brooke_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/brooke_county) - [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 Brooke County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/brooke_county) - [www.ballotready.org](https://www.ballotready.org/people/michelle-heaton) - [www.heraldstaronline.com](https://www.heraldstaronline.com/news/local-news/2025/12/michelle-heaton-is-new-brooke-magistrate/) - [www.courtswv.gov](https://www.courtswv.gov/node/32609) - [www.theintelligencer.net](https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/community/2025/12/heaton-appointed-to-fill-brooke-county-magistrate-vacancy/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michelle-heaton-wv-magistrate-brooke", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michelle-heaton-wv-magistrate-brooke", "name": "Michelle Heaton | KnowJudges", "description": "Michelle Heaton, West Virginia Magistrate Court, Brooke County. 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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.