--- title: "Susan A. Honaker | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/susan-a-honaker-wv-magistrate-mercer" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Susan A. Honaker West Virginia Magistrate Court, Mercer County · Magistrate ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Magistrate Court, Mercer County - State: West Virginia - Role: Magistrate - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Susan A. Honaker is the Magistrate Judge for Division 2 of the Mercer County Magistrate Court in West Virginia, serving since her 2012 election and re‐elected in 2016, with her current term running until May 14, 2028 - Honaker’s career includes judicial service in Mercer County and a background in legal practice - The article describes criminal-justice education but gives no school, degree type, or completion year - She is the widow of a second-generation law-enforcement officer ### Education ### Additional information - WVVA’s April 26, 2023 profile identifies Susan Atkins Honaker as a Mercer County magistrate. - It also summarizes a November 2023 public admonishment concerning outside jewelry sales begun in 2018 without approval. - Re‐elected: 2016, defeating John Howell in the general election (57.86% of the vote) - First elected: 2012 for a four‐year term - Listed among the court’s magistrates at the 120 Scott Street, Suite 103, Princeton, WV 24740 courthouse, with the magistrate’s office contact number 304‐325‐3582. - While specific prior legal employment is not detailed in the provided sources, her role as magistrate judge reflects experience in handling both civil and family cases at the local court level. - Honaker presides over cases in the Mercer County Magistrate Court, Division 2, which handles a range of matters including family law, civil disputes, and other local judicial matters. - Before election she held a position as a child advocate, which brought her into magistrate court. - It details her interest in helping young people and an open-door approach. ## 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/mercer_county) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/mercer_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/mercer_county) - [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 Mercer County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/mercer_county) - [www.wvva.com](https://www.wvva.com/2023/04/26/wvva-hometown-hero-mercer-county-magistrate-making-difference/) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/Susan_Honaker) - [www.courtswv.gov](https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2023-11/72-2023MagHonaker.pdf) - [www.ballotready.org](https://www.ballotready.org/people/susan-honaker) - [apps.sos.wv.gov](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/Officials/Home/Details/d8477358-760c-4feb-ac9a-f9099d96732f) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/susan-a-honaker-wv-magistrate-mercer", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/susan-a-honaker-wv-magistrate-mercer", "name": "Susan A. 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Honaker", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/susan-a-honaker-wv-magistrate-mercer" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.