--- title: "William \"Bill\" Norris | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-bill-norris-wv-magistrate-berkeley" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # William "Bill" Norris West Virginia Magistrate Court, Berkeley County · Magistrate ## Profile - Court: West Virginia Magistrate Court, Berkeley County - State: West Virginia - Role: Magistrate - Service status: former - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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 ## 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/berkeley_county) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/berkeley_county) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/court-information-county/berkeley_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) - [Official current-roster or retirement correction](https://www.courtswv.gov/public-resources/news-publications/press-page/press-releases/application-period-open-berkeley-0) - [berkeleycountygop.com](https://berkeleycountygop.com/2024/03/bill-norris/) - [apps.sos.wv.gov](https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/Officials/Home/Details/acee1454-3a62-40fb-9fa2-18c9db91c9dd) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-bill-norris-wv-magistrate-berkeley", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-bill-norris-wv-magistrate-berkeley", "name": "William \"Bill\" Norris | KnowJudges", "description": "William \"Bill\" Norris, West Virginia Magistrate Court, Berkeley County. 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