---
title: "Richard Stephens | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-stephens-wv-family-berkeley"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Richard Stephens

West Virginia Family Court, Berkeley County · Family Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: West Virginia Family Court, Berkeley County
- State: West Virginia
- Role: Family Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Richard D. Stephens is a judge of the Twenty‐Fourth Family Court Circuit in West Virginia, serving Berkeley and Jefferson counties, appointed in 2021 and elected in 2022 and 2024.
- Appointed by Governor Jim Justice on July 27, 2021 to fill the seat vacated by the retirement of Judge David P. Greenberg
- Earlier career experience includes assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Berkeley County, for 10 years; solo practitioner in the Eastern Panhandle for five years

### Education

- J.D., Claude W. Pettit College of Law, Ohio Northern University, 2001 Licensed to practice law in West Virginia since 2002.
- Undergraduate degree from Alderson-Broaddus College in 1998
- Alderson‐Broaddus College — B.A. (1998)

### Additional information

- He was elected in 2022 and re‐elected in 2024.
- Appointed to the Twenty-Fourth Family Court Circuit and sworn in August 23, 2021.
- Berkeley County Magistrate for four years before appointment to Family Court.
- Solo practitioner in private legal practice for 5 years
- Berkeley County Magistrate for 4 years
- The Twenty‐Fourth Family Court Circuit covers Berkeley and Jefferson counties in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
- Judge Stephens resides in Falling Waters, West Virginia, with his wife, Colleen, and their four children.

## 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/richardStephens)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/richardStephens)
- [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/richardStephens)
- [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 Jefferson County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/jefferson_county)
- [Judge Richard D. Stephens](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/richardStephens)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-stephens-wv-family-berkeley",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-stephens-wv-family-berkeley",
      "name": "Richard Stephens | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Richard Stephens, West Virginia Family 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/richard-stephens-wv-family-berkeley#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-stephens-wv-family-berkeley#judge",
      "name": "Richard Stephens",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-stephens-wv-family-berkeley",
      "jobTitle": "Family Court Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "West Virginia Family Court, Berkeley County"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/richardStephens"
      ],
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Alderson-Broaddus College"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "West Virginia",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/west-virginia"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Richard Stephens",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-stephens-wv-family-berkeley"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```