Circuit Courts

Wood County is in the Fourth Judicial Circuit which is composed of Wood and Wirt Counties. 

Wood County Circuit Court is located in the Holmes Shaver Judicial Annex, #2 Government Square, Parkersburg, West Virginia.  You will find this building at the end of Market Street, between the Public Debt building and the City of Parkersburg Building. 

Wirt County Circuit Court is located at the Wirt County Courthouse in Elizabeth, West Virginia. 

Wood County has three elected judges who preside over Wood County Circuit Court; one judge also travels to Wirt County to conduct court.  These judges serve eight years terms.  Wood County Circuit Judges are:

·    The Honorable Jeffrey B. Reed  (Second Floor)

·    The Honorable Robert A. Waters (Third Floor)

The third division is currently vacant and awaiting appointment by Governor Joe Manchin, III.  This vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge George Hill in February, 2006. 

The Circuit Court is a court of record.  This means that the proceedings occurring in circuit court are recorded in some manner, usually by a court reporter or a tape recording system.  The schedule of cases that a Court is to hear is called the Court’s docket. Judge Reed posts his docket on the internet.  To access this docket, click this link or you can access this site through the West Virginia Supreme Court web site.    

(http://www.state.wv.us/wvsca/courthouse/wood/docket/index.htm)

The Court records and files are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk. 

In Wood County, Carole Jones is the Circuit Clerk.  Her office is on the first floor of the Holmes Shaver Judicial Building.  Her phone number is 424-1700. 

In Wirt County, the Circuit Court Clerk is Theresa Rollins.  Her phone number is 275-6597.

The Circuit Court has jurisdiction or power to hear civil cases and criminal cases.  With few exceptions, trials conducted in the Circuit Court are open to the public.

·        A civil case typically involves some type of dispute between parties.  There are many kinds of civil cases.  Most civil cases involve one party suing another for monetary damages which are alleged to have been caused by the party being sued.  If the amount in dispute is over $5000, then that civil case must be heard in Circuit Court.

·        A criminal case involves charges brought by the State of West Virginia against an individual (or sometimes a corporation) for a violation of a criminal law.  A serious charge which carries prison time as a penalty is called a felony.  Examples of felony charges would be burglary, kidnapping or breaking and entering charges.  A less serious charge which carries jail time and a possible fine is called a misdemeanor.  Examples of misdemeanor charges are trespassing and first offense driving under the influence of alcohol or shoplifting. 

·        Felony charges must be brought by the Wood County Prosecuting Attorney by means of a grand jury indictment.  All felony cases must be heard in Circuit Court.  A felony case which proceeds to trial is almost always heard by a jury of twelve persons selected for jury duty.

·        Misdemeanor charges can also be brought by means of an indictment, but the majority of these cases are filed when a person is arrested with a warrant issued by a different judicial officer, a magistrate.  A circuit court does have power to hear misdemeanor cases in certain circumstances. 

·        Child Abuse and Neglect Cases / Juvenile Delinquency Cases. 

Circuit Courts also conduct closed proceedings on juvenile delinquency petitions, which concern criminal-type allegations brought against minors, or persons under the age of 18.  Additionally, Circuit Courts hear petitions concerning allegations that children have been abused or neglected by their caretakers.  These hearings are also closed to the public.

·        Appeals and Other Miscellaneous Matters

In addition to these matters, the Circuit Court also hears and decides appeals from Magistrate Court, Family Court and Municipal Court.  There are also other types of miscellaneous matters heard or handled by the Circuit Court such as guardianship matters .

Parking for the Wood County Circuit Court is available at the parking lot next to the Blennerhassett Hotel.  If you take your parking ticket to court with you and have it stamped, the first hour is free.  If you can catch a parking meter, you can also park there, but be aware:  they patrol constantly and you will likely get a parking ticket if your meter expires.  Also, you enter the Wood County Courthouse Annex on the second floor. 

At the Wirt County Courthouse, there is no parking lot – there is usually on-street parking, however.