--- title: "William R. Wooton | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-r-wooton-wv-supreme-court-of-appeals" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # William R. Wooton Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia · Justice ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia - State: West Virginia - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-08-22 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - “Bill” Wooton is an American attorney, politician, and judge, best known as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and Chief Justice in 2025 - He assumed the role of Chief Justice for the 2025 term - Private practice in Beckley: Wooton, Wooton & Fragile (1977–1994), The Wooton Law Firm (1994–2014), Wooton & Wooton, Attorneys at Law (2014–2020) - Clerk to Fourth Circuit Judge John A. Field Jr. 1971–1972; assistant WV attorney general 1972–1974; assistant Raleigh prosecutor 1974–1977 - Law clerk to Hon. John A. Field Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (1971–1972) ### Education - J.D. – West Virginia University College of Law, Order of the Coif, editor-in-chief of the West Virginia Law Review, graduated at the top of his class. ### Additional information - Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia since January 1, 2021, elected in a nonpartisan June 9, 2020, runoff. - Elected June 9, 2020; sworn December 30, 2020 for a 12-year Supreme Court term beginning January 1, 2021. - WV House 1977–1986, 1989–1990, 2009–2010, majority leader 1985–1986 - Senate 1991–2002, judiciary chair ten years. - Born September 20, 1944, in Beckley, West Virginia, Wooton is married to Shir and has three adult sons and five grandchildren. - William R. - More than 30 years Army Reserve/WV Army National Guard, retired colonel. - Over 30 years in the U.S. Army Reserve and West Virginia Army National Guard, retired as Colonel. - No graduation years or exact degree abbreviations given. - “Bill” Wooton, native of Raleigh County, obtained a bachelor’s in business management from Marshall University and a law degree from WVU College of Law; editor-in-chief of WV Law Review, Order of the Coif, top of class. - He is a permanent member of the Judicial Conference of the Fourth Circuit and a West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow. - Direct official source also documents Rotary, chamber, Little League coaching, Fourth Circuit judicial conference and WV Bar Foundation fellow. - He has been active in the Beckley Rotary Club, Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, and as a Little League coach. ## 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/appellate-courts/supreme-court-of-appeals/justices-staff) - [Official roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/appellate-courts/supreme-court-of-appeals/justices-staff) - [West Virginia Judiciary official judicial roster](https://www.courtswv.gov/appellate-courts/supreme-court-of-appeals/justices-staff) - [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) - [www.courtswv.gov](https://www.courtswv.gov/appellate-courts/supreme-court-of-appeals/justices-staff/justice-wooton) - [ballotpedia.org](https://ballotpedia.org/William_Wooton) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-r-wooton-wv-supreme-court-of-appeals", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-r-wooton-wv-supreme-court-of-appeals", "name": "William R. Wooton | KnowJudges", "description": "William R. Wooton, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. 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/william-r-wooton-wv-supreme-court-of-appeals#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-r-wooton-wv-supreme-court-of-appeals#judge", "name": "William R. Wooton", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-r-wooton-wv-supreme-court-of-appeals", "jobTitle": "Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtswv.gov/appellate-courts/supreme-court-of-appeals/justices-staff" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "West Virginia", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/west-virginia" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William R. Wooton", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/william-r-wooton-wv-supreme-court-of-appeals" } ] } ] } ```