--- title: "Perri Jo DeChristopher | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/perri-jo-dechristopher-wv-circuit-monongalia" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Perri Jo DeChristopher West Virginia Circuit Court, Monongalia County · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Circuit Court, Monongalia 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 - Official judiciary biography: Perri Jo DeChristopher received an appointment from Governor Jim Justice and took office January 27, 2023; elected to Twenty-First Judicial Circuit, Monongalia County, Division 3 in 2024 - Appointment: Appointed by Governor Jim Justice on January 27, 2023, to fill the seat vacated by Judge Phillip D. Gaujot - She was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Monongalia County in 2016 and re‐elected in 2020 - She joined Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in 1994, Monongalia County as assistant prosecutor in 1998, became chief assistant in 2000, and was elected county prosecutor in 2016 and reelected in 2020 - Her public service career began in 1994 with the Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, followed by a role in the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office from 1998, rising to Chief Assistant in 2000 - Office: Monongalia County Justice Center, 75 High Street, Suite 32, Morgantown, WV 26505 ### Education ### Additional information - She became a West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow in 2023 - In 2023, she was inducted as a West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow - overseeing prosecution of murder cases, violent felonies, felony drug offenses, and sexual assault crimes - She also served on the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Commission and as Vice Chair of the West Virginia Sentencing Commission - Sexual Assault Response Team, chaired the Mon Metro Drug Task Force board, helped found the Adult Drug Court, and held the role of vice president of the state Association of Counties and past president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association - Judge DeChristopher is married to retired West Virginia State Trooper Chuck Porter, and they have two children - Born and raised in Monongalia County, she attended Morgantown High School and graduated from West Virginia University and its College of Law - During her tenure as prosecutor, she served on the Monongalia County Sexual Assault Response Team, chaired the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, was a founding member of the Adult Drug Court, and held leadership roles in the West Virginia Association of Counties and West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Association - Her prosecution work included murder, violent felonies, felony drugs and sexual assault - Her community roles include Mon General Hospital board officer and executive board member of Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia - Outside the judiciary, she was on the board of Mon General Hospital and the executive board of the Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia (YCF) ## 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/perriDeChristopher) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/perriDeChristopher) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/perriDeChristopher) - [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) - [perriDeChristopher](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/perriDeChristopher) - [West Virginia Judiciary Monongalia County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/monongalia_county) - [wvmetronews.com](https://wvmetronews.com/2022/12/26/dechristopher-promises-to-be-a-prepared-hardworking-listener-as-judge/) - [www.wvnews.com](https://www.wvnews.com/morgantownnews/news/monongalia-county-west-virginia-gets-new-judge-prosecutor/article_01091294-9e62-11ed-84d3-93e82dd27209.html) - [perriDeChristopher](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/perriDeChristopher) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/perri-jo-dechristopher-wv-circuit-monongalia", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/perri-jo-dechristopher-wv-circuit-monongalia", "name": "Perri Jo DeChristopher | KnowJudges", "description": "Perri Jo DeChristopher, West Virginia Circuit Court, Monongalia 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.