William "Bill" Norris at a glance
- Current role
- Former Magistrate
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Former
William "Bill" Norris
Former Magistrate · West Virginia Magistrate Court, Berkeley County
Biography
Professional career
- 1981–2002: Judge on the Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2nd Circuit in Shreveport, later serving as chief judge from 1999 until his retirement in August 2002
- 1974–1980: Judge on the Louisiana 4th Judicial District Court in Monroe
- 1964–1974: Practiced law in West Monroe; held the role of city attorney (1964–1970) and city judge (1970–1974)
- Tulane University School of Law — secretary and president
Education
- Tulane University School of Law — J.D. (1962)
Additional information
- William “Bill” Norris’s March 2024 candidate biography confirms graduation in radio and television broadcasting from Career Academy, Georgetown School of Fine Arts, Washington DC; no degree type/year given.
- Judge Norris died on July 13, 2016, at age 79, from a stroke in West Monroe.
- Ouachita Parish School Board twice (1964–1971 and 2011–2014), as president from 1968–1971, and in 2011–2014 donated his board salary to local schools.
- He was recognized with the A.O. Evans Award (2006) and honors from the Downtown Monroe Lions Club (2008) for community service.
- Buried at Hasley Cemetery in West Monroe.
- Colleagues and peers described him as a mentor, “a scholar with a servant’s heart,” and “a great leader and exemplary jurist”.
- Berkeley County school board vice president and served on the board over 13 years.
- Community work includes business partnership, senior services, NAACP, Hospice, WVU Extension, PTA, MLK Scholarship Committee and 25 years as a PASS mentor.
- He later earned a Master of Judicial Process from the University of Virginia School of Law.
- His career combined legal excellence with deep community engagement, leaving a lasting legacy in Louisiana’s judiciary and civic life.
- He also held leadership roles in judicial governance, including membership and chairmanship of the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, Louisiana Judicial Council, and the Louisiana Conference of Courts of Appeal Judges.
- It details him as serving his second Berkeley County magistrate term and second year as chief magistrate, seeking a third term, with over seven years of magistrate service.
- Extravaganza Enterprises LLC, a marketing/promotions company.
- Lifelong county resident and Musselman High School Hall of Fame inductee.
- He was married to Carolyn Norris, a longtime educator, and had six children, 16 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
- A devoted member of the First Baptist Church of West Monroe, he was active in church committees and community groups.
- Moot Court, Tulane University School of Law
- Tulane Law Review
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 ↗
Sources
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 ↗Official current-roster or retirement correction
Identity/Contact/Assignment source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View Official current-roster or retirement correction ↗berkeleycountygop.com
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View berkeleycountygop.com ↗