Robert E. Richardson at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Robert E. Richardson
Circuit Judge · West Virginia Circuit Court, Greenbrier County
Biography
Professional career
- Robert E. Richardson is a judge of West Virginia’s 29th Judicial Circuit (Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties), appointed in 2014, elected in 2016, and re‐elected in 2024, and has held the role of Chief Judge of the circuit since 2018
- Private practice in Lewisburg beginning 1997; opened his own firm in 2000
- In 1997, he returned to Lewisburg for private practice, opening his own firm in 2000
- Earlier career experience includes attorney, Institute for Public Representation in Washington, D.C., focused on disability civil-rights matters; adjunct professor, Georgetown University Law Center
- He then joined West Virginia Legal Services Plan (now Legal Aid of West Virginia) as managing attorney for the Clarksburg office
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center in — LL.M. (1989)
- University of Virginia School of Law; editor of the Virginia Law Review — J.D. (1987)
- Bachelor's degree, Political Science from West Virginia University in 1984
- in Political Science, West Virginia University — B.A. (1984)
Additional information
- Elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2024 to the Twenty-Ninth Judicial Circuit.
- Appointed to the Greenbrier/Pocahontas circuit bench May 21, 2014.
- Appointed: May 21, 2014, by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin to fill a vacancy.
- Adjunct faculty, West Virginia University College of Law.
- focusing on civil rights for persons with disabilities.
- The circuit was previously numbered as the 11th Judicial Circuit.
- Judge Richardson presides over the 29th Judicial Circuit, which covers Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties.
- As Chief Judge for the sixth consecutive year, he oversees the court’s day‐to‐day operations, supervises staff, ensures compliance with judicial policies, and assigns certain cases.
- He also leads initiatives such as the circuit’s family treatment court program to address drug‐related child abuse and neglect cases.
- In summary: Judge Robert E. Richardson is a seasoned jurist with a background in public service, private practice, and community leadership, now serving as Chief Judge of the 29th Judicial Circuit and focusing on improving access to justice and family support programs in West Virginia.
- Judge Richardson and his wife, Susan, live in Greenbrier County, West Virginia.
- He has served on boards for Habitat for Humanity of West Virginia, Legal Aid of West Virginia, Greenbrier Youth Camp, and HospiceCare.
- For 25 years, he directed the West Virginia Older 4‐H Members Conference and was inducted into the West Virginia 4‐H Hall of Fame.
- West Virginia University's first Harry S. Truman Scholarship recipient.
- Former WVU Mountaineer mascot.
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, Greenbrier County; West Virginia Circuit Court, Pocahontas 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 Greenbrier County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Greenbrier County directory ↗West Virginia Judiciary Pocahontas County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Pocahontas County directory ↗Judge Robert E. Richardson
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Judge Robert E. Richardson ↗