Shawn D. Nines at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Shawn D. Nines
Circuit Judge · West Virginia Circuit Court, Barbour County
Biography
Professional career
- Judge Shawn David Nines was appointed on December 11, 2018, to a newly created seat in the 19th Judicial Circuit, which covers Barbour and Taylor Counties, and officially took office on January 2, 2019
- Before his judicial appointment, Judge Nines practiced law privately in Grafton, West Virginia, from 2007 until 2018.
- Earlier in his career, he was City Attorney for Grafton, a lawyer for Huddleston Bolen LLP, and a law clerk for Circuit Judge Alan Moats from 2003 to 2005
- Earlier career experience includes law clerk to Circuit Judge Alan Moats, 2003-2005; attorney, Huddleston Bolen LLP
- Registered Patent Attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Judge Nines has also been appointed to temporarily sit on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia for specific cases when justices are recused
- While in private practice, he contributed to his community as an assistant football and strength training coach at Grafton High School and as a play-by-play broadcaster for the school’s football games on WGYE Radio
Education
- University of Akron School of Law in — J.D. (2003)
Additional information
- Elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024 to the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit.
- He was subsequently elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024 to the renumbered 23rd Judicial Circuit.
- Notably, he served in March 2020 and again in December 2022 to hear Rule 20 arguments in high-profile cases.
- Appointed to a new circuit seat in December 2018 and took office January 2, 2019.
- Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Taylor and Barbour Counties at different times, 2007-2018.
- Bachelor’s degree in 1998 and a master’s degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering in 2000 from West Virginia University, followed by a law degree in 2003 from the University of Akron Law School.
- Serves on West Virginia's Business Court.
- He also held the role of an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Taylor and Barbour Counties during the same period.
- Registered Patent Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, reflecting his expertise in intellectual property law.
- One of seven circuit judges serving on the West Virginia Business Court, which handles complex corporate and business litigation across the state.
- He resides in Thornton, West Virginia, with his wife, Donette, and their young twins.
- These appointments highlight his recognition for handling complex legal matters and his trusted role within the state judiciary.
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, Barbour County; West Virginia Circuit Court, Taylor 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 Barbour County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Barbour County directory ↗West Virginia Judiciary Taylor County directory
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 4, 2026
View West Virginia Judiciary Taylor County directory ↗Judge Shawn David Nines
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Judge Shawn David Nines ↗