--- title: "Steven L. Shaffer | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/steven-l-shaffer-wv-circuit-preston" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Steven L. Shaffer West Virginia Circuit Court, Preston County · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Circuit Court, Preston 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 - The elected Circuit Court Judge for West Virginia’s new Twenty‐Second Judicial Circuit, covering Preston and Tucker Counties, and has served since 2018 with re‐election in 2024 - Sworn in as Preston County’s circuit court judge in 2018, promising to maintain a “level playing field” in the courtroom and to remain approachable while serving - Private practice with Estep & Shaffer, L.C ### Education - West Virginia University College of Law in — J.D. (2003) - Bachelor's degree, Business Administration and Accounting from Fairmont State College in 2000 - Fairmont State College — B.A. in Business Administration & Accounting (2000) ### Additional information - Elected to the Preston County circuit bench in 2018. - Before becoming a judge, Shaffer spent 23 years in construction and as a coal miner. - Preston County Prosecutor Ron Brown before joining Estep & Shaffer, L.C. as an attorney. - Earlier career experience includes worked for 23 years in construction and coal mining before college/law school; worked for Preston County Prosecutor Ron Brown after law school. - He then pursued higher - Shaffer is a resident of Tunnelton, WV. - He is married to Beverly Shaffer and has two grandchildren. ## 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/stevenShaffer) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/stevenShaffer) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/stevenShaffer) - [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 Preston County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/preston_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary Tucker County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/tucker_county) - [Judge Steven L. Shaffer](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/stevenShaffer) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/steven-l-shaffer-wv-circuit-preston", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/steven-l-shaffer-wv-circuit-preston", "name": "Steven L. Shaffer | KnowJudges", "description": "Steven L. Shaffer, West Virginia Circuit Court, Preston 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/steven-l-shaffer-wv-circuit-preston#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/steven-l-shaffer-wv-circuit-preston#judge", "name": "Steven L. 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Shaffer", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/steven-l-shaffer-wv-circuit-preston" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [West Virginia Trial Court Rules, Rule 8: Media Coverage of Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7bfc4ba5831cb3f30a5d65ca) — 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](https://www.courtswv.gov/legal-community/court-rules/wv-trial-court-rules-contents). Collected 2026-07-27.