Robert A. Waters at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Robert A. Waters
Circuit Judge · West Virginia Circuit Court, Wood County
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Robert A. Waters is the presiding judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Wood County, West Virginia, elected in 1992 and re‐elected in 2000, 2008, 2016, and most recently in 2024
- Prosecutorial service: Assistant Wood County Prosecutor (1979–1982, 1989–1992)
- Earlier career experience includes private practice in Parkersburg, 1979-1992; assistant Prosecutor, Wood County, 1979-1982 and 1989-1992
- To serve on a West Virginia Circuit Court, a judge must be a West Virginia citizen for at least five years, a resident of the circuit, at least 30 years old, and have practiced law for at least five years
Education
- West Virginia University College of Law — West Virginia Law Review, AmJur Award in Criminal Law — J.D. (1979)
- Bachelor's degree, Government and Economics from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1976
- Attended the National Judicial College (University of Nevada, Reno)
Additional information
- Elected to the bench: 1992 (then covering Wood and Wirt Counties)
- Elected to the circuit bench in 1992.
- Private practice: Parkersburg, WV, 1979–1992
- High school: Parkersburg High School, 1973
- Professional memberships: West Virginia Judicial Association, West Virginia Bar Association
- Diploma of Judicial Skills from the American Judges Association.
- Past president of Henry Logan Children’s Home; active in Rotary and Boy Scouts
- In summary: Judge Robert A. Waters is a long‐time, highly experienced judicial officer in West Virginia, with a career spanning private practice, prosecutorial service, and over three decades on the bench, recognized for both legal expertise and community involvement.
- Married to Robin; three children
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Camera And Audio Equipment
Statewide
West Virginia Trial Court Rule 8 makes courtroom camera and audio equipment subject to the presiding circuit judge's or magistrate's permission.
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 ↗
Advance Media Request Timing
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings
West Virginia Circuit Court, Wood County
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. 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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-27Sources
Identity source checked July 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster ↗West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings ↗West Virginia Judiciary Wood County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Wood County directory ↗Judge Robert A. Waters
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Judge Robert A. Waters ↗