--- title: "Tera L. Salango | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tera-l-salango-wv-circuit-kanawha" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Tera L. Salango West Virginia Circuit Court, Kanawha County · Circuit Judge ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Circuit Court, Kanawha 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 - Tera L. Salango is a judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit (Kanawha County, West Virginia), elected in 2018 and re‐elected in 2024 - She was elected circuit judge in November 2018 and re‐elected in 2024 - 2005–2016: Assistant prosecutor in Kanawha County - Earlier career experience includes attorney, Spilman, Thomas & Battle, focused on civil defense litigation; attorney, Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, 2005-late 2016 - Bachelor's degree, Criminal Justice, magna cum laude from West Virginia State University in 1999 ### Education - West Virginia University College of Law, top 20% of her class, member of the Order of the Barristers — J.D. (2003) - B.A. in Criminal Justice, magna cum laude, West Virginia State University (1999) ### Additional information - Scholarship established at WV State University in her honor (2024) - West Virginia Wonder Woman Award (2022, WV Living magazine) - Inducted into Nitro High School Hall of Achievement (2022) - Elected to the Kanawha County circuit bench in 2018. - Civil litigator in private practice from late 2016 until election. - In 2016, she joined her husband’s law firm, Preston & Salango, PLLC - handling violent felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile matters. - focusing on civil litigation. - Listed in the official West Virginia Judiciary directory for the Eighth Judicial Circuit. - Boards for PRO‐Kids, Inc., Susan G. Komen West Virginia, and the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc.. - Judge Salango presides over cases in Kanawha County Circuit Court, the county’s general‐jurisdiction trial court handling felonies, major civil cases, equity matters, some misdemeanors, and appeals from lower courts. - Early legal work at Spilman, Thomas & Battle in civil defense litigation - Lawyers and Leaders Award from WVU College of Law - She is active in Charleston community initiatives, especially those supporting children and victims of crime. - A native of Nitro, WV, Salango is married to Ben and has two sons. - She has cited her brother’s murder at age 16 as a pivotal moment shaping her legal career. - Generation Next: 40 Under 40. ## 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/teraSalango) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/teraSalango) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/teraSalango) - [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 Kanawha County directory](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/kanawha_county) - [Judge Tera L. Salango](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/circuit-judges/teraSalango) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tera-l-salango-wv-circuit-kanawha", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tera-l-salango-wv-circuit-kanawha", "name": "Tera L. Salango | KnowJudges", "description": "Tera L. Salango, West Virginia Circuit Court, Kanawha 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/tera-l-salango-wv-circuit-kanawha#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tera-l-salango-wv-circuit-kanawha#judge", "name": "Tera L. 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