The West Virginia Trial Court Rules
Chapter 1: Administrative Matters, Rules 1-8
1. Effect of Rules of General Practice; Definiations
- 1.01 Matters of Statewide Concern
- 1.02 Repeal of Local Rules
- 1.03 Authority to Enact Local Rules on Matters Which Are Strictly Local
- 1.04 Definitions
2. Terms of Court
3. Court Sessions
- 3.01 Generally
- 3.02 Opening Court
- 3.03 Court Security
4. Counsel
- 4.01 Admission to Practice Before the Courts
- 4.02 Visiting Attorneys; Pro Hac Vice Admission
- 4.03 Representation of Parties and Pro Se Appearances
- 4.04 Substitution of Counsel by Stipulation
- 4.05 Legal Assistance by Law Students
- 4.06 Bias and Prejudice
- 4.07 Attire for Court Appearances
- 4.08 Addressing the Court; Examination of Witnesses
- 4.09 Contact with Jurors
- 4.10 Ex Parte Presentations; Duty to Court
5. Scheduling Conflicts
- 5.01 Purpose
- 5.02 General Priorities
- 5.03 Additional Factors
- 5.04 Notice of Conflict
- 5.05 Resolution of Conflict
6. Motions Practice, General
- 6.01 Form of Memoranda, Motions and Other Papers
- 6.02 Citation Form
- 6.03 Copies of Memoranda
- 6.04 Copies of Cases and Statutes
7. Juries
- 7.01 Master List
- 7.02 Jury Wheel or Jury Box
- 7.03 Jury Panels and Pools
- 7.04 Magistrate Court Juries
8. Cameras, Audio Equipment and Meida in the Courtroom
- 8.01 Permission of the Court Required
- 8.02 Procedure to Obtain Permission
- 8.03 Termination of Coverage
- 8.04 Scope of Coverage
- 8.05 Nonjudicial Meetings
- 8.06 Equipment and Personnel
- 8.07 Location of Equipment
- 8.08 Pooling Arrangements
- 8.09 Admissibility in Evidence
- 8.10 Prior Approval to Identify or Video Jurors
Chapter 1: Rules 9-19
9. Custondy and Disposition of Exhibit
- 9.01 Generally
10. Filing and Removal of Papers; Limitation of Access to Court Files
- 10.01 Filing of Papers
- 10.02 Removal of Papers and Files From Custody of Clerk
- 10.03 Limitation of Access to Court Files
- 10.04 Access to Court Files and Other Court Records under the Freedom of Information Act
11. Caption and Format of Orders
- 11.01 Captions
- 11.02 Format
12. Filing and Service by Facsimile Transmission
- 12.01 Applicability
- 12.02 Definitions
- 12.03 General Provisions
- 12.04 Filing and Service of Documents in Civil Actions by Facsimile Transmission
- 12.05 Facsimile Transmission of Domestic Violence Petitions and Protective Orders
- 12.06 Facsimile Transactions in Criminal Matters
13. Court Library
- 13.01 Generally
14. Videoconferencing
15. Electronic Filing and Service
(Note: By Order entered October 9, 2008, TCR 15 was approved, effective immediately.)
- 15.01 Application
- 15.02 General Provisions
- 15.03 Authorization and Signature
- 15.04 Filing and Service
- 15.05 Orders and Civil Docket
- 15.06 Waiver of E-Filing and Service Requirements
- 15.07 Public Access
- 15.08 Case Management Order
- 15.09 Registration and Fees
- 15.10 Form of documents electronically filed
- 15.11 Time of electronic filing and service
- 15.12 Filing of sealed documents
- 15.13 System or participant errors
- 15.14 Obligation of participants to maintain proper delivery information
16. Time Standards
- 16.01 Purpose
- 16.02 Implementation
- 16.03 Definitions
- 16.04 Time Standards for Criminal Cases
- 16.05 Time Standards for Civil Cases
- 16.06 Domestic Relations Proceedings
- 16.07 Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings
- 16.08 Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
- 16.09 Mental Hygiene Proceedings
- 16.10 Guardianship and Conservatorship Proceedings
- 16.11 Petitions and Appeals
- 16.12 Extraordinary, Declaratory Judgment, and Equitable Proceedings
- 16.13 Duties of Court Officers
17. Disqualification and Temporary Assignment of Judges
- 17.01 Motions for Disqualification
- 17.02 Voluntary Recusal by a Judge
- 17.03 Temporary Assignment of a Different Judge
- 17.04 Applicability
- 17.05 Time
- 17.06 Challenge to Disqualification Rulings
- 17.07 Unavailability under W. Va. Code ยง 51-2-1(a)
- 17.08 Sanctions
18. Reserved
19. Reserved
Chapter 2: Civil Matters
20. Extension of Answer Date
- 20.01 Generally
21. Guardian Ad Litem (NOTICE: Rule change effective July 1, 2012 - click here for more information)
- 21.02. Application Generally
- 21.02. Appointments Generally
- 21.03. Duties Generally
- 21.04. Definitions
- 21.05. Eligibility for a Supreme Court-Paid Guardian Ad Litem
- 21.06. Compensation for a Supreme Court-Paid Guardian Ad Litem
22. Motions Practice, Civil
- 22.01 Motions, Responses, and Supporting Memoranda
- 22.02 Motions to Dismiss
- 22.03 Hearings on Motions
- 22.04 Action on Motions
- 22.05 Effect of Failure to Appear at Oral Argument or Hearing
23. Trial, Civil
- 23.01 Non-Jury Matters
- 23.02 Cases to be Tried by a Jury: Proposed Jury Instructions; Proposed Verdict Form
- 23.03 Voir Dire
- 23.04 Opening Statements and Closing Arguments
- 23.05 Stipulations
24. Preparation and Submission of Orders
- 24.01 Generally
25. Mediation
- 25.01 Scope
- 25.02 Mediation Defined
- 25.03 Selection of Cases for Mediation
- 25.04 Listing of Mediators
- 25.05 Selection of Mediator
- 25.06 Compensation of Mediator
- 25.07 Mediator Disqualification
- 25.08 Provision of Preliminary Information to the Mediator
- 25.09 Timeframes for Conduct of Mediation
- 25.10 Appearances; Sanctions
- 25.11 Participation
- 25.12 Confidentiality of Mediation Process
- 25.13 Immunity
- 25.14 Enforceability of Settlement Agreement
- 25.15 Report of Mediator
- 25.16 Statistical Information
26. Mass Litigation
- 26.01 Mass Litigation -- Preamble
- 26.02 Mass Litigation Panel
- 26.03 Application
- 26.04 Definitions
- 26.05 Panel Duties
- 26.06 Motion to Refer Actions as Mass Litigation
- 26.07 Assignment of Presiding Judge in Mass Litigation
- 26.08 Powers of Presiding Judge
- 26.09 Motion to Join in Existing Mass Litigation
- 26.10 Class Actions
- 26.11 Official Reporter
- 26.12 Scope; Conflicts
27. Public Funding for Expert Assistance in Child Abuse or Neglect Cases
- 27.01 Motion and Appointment
- 27.02 Compensation of Experts
28. Reasonable Efforts and Contrary to the Welfare Findings in Juvenile Cases
29. Business Court Division
- 29.01 Business Court Division - Preamble
- 29.02 Business Court Division
- 29.03 Application
- 29.04 Definitions
- 29.05 Division Duties
- 29.06 Motion to Refer Actions as Business Litigation
- 29.07 Assignment of Presiding Judge in Business Litigation
- 29.08 Powers and Duties of Presiding Judge
- 29.09 Scope; Conflicts
Chapter 3: Criminal Matters
30. Conditions of Release
- 30.01 Hearing on Motion for Reconsideration of Conditions of Release
- 30.02 Scheduling of Hearings
- 30.03 Effect of Having Been Released Previous to Indictment
31. Bonding Agents and Bail Bonds
- 31.01 Generally
32. Discovering and Inspection in the Circuit Courts
- 32.01 Generally
- 32.02 Mandatory Discovery
- 32.03 Discovery Conference
- 32.04 Items Not Subject to Disclosure
- 32.05 Continuing Duty to Disclose
- 32.06 Regulation of Discovery
- 32.07 Statement of Witnesses
- 32.08 Exchange of Exhibit Lists
- 32.09 Additional Motions for Discovery
33. Articles of Evidence
- 33.01 State's Evidence
34. Depositions
- 34.01 Authorization for Deposition
- 34.02 Incarcerated Defendants
35. Public Funding for Expert Assistance
- 35.01 Motion
- 35.02 Service of Motion
- 35.03 Ex Parte Motion
- 35.04 Judicial Determination of Whether to Proceed Ex Parte
- 35.05 Compensation of Experts
36. Motions Practice, Criminal
- 36.01 Generally
- 36.02 Motions for an Extension of Time
- 36.03 Time for Filing Motions
- 36.04 Time for Filing Responses and Replies
- 36.05 Limitation on Memoranda
37. Speedy Trial
- 37.01 Authority
- 37.02 Motion for Speedy Trial
38. Continuances
- 38.01 Procedure for Obtaining Continuance
39. Guardians Ad Litem
- 39.01 Appointment
- 39.02 Duties
- 39.03 Compensation
40. Pretial Conference
- 40.01 Authority
- 40.02 Purpose
- 40.03 Attendance and Participation at the Pretrial Conference
41. Changes to Plea
- 41.01 Notice of Change of Plea Hearing
42. Trial, Criminal
- 42.01 Presentation of Statement of Facts and Potential Witnesses
- 42.02 Presentation of Jury Instructions
- 42.03 Voir Dire
- 42.04 Opening Statements and Closing Arguments
- 42.05 Stipulations
43. Pre-Sentence Investigation and Report
- 43.01 Investigation, Report, and Objections
- 43.02 Disclosure
44. Petition for Disclosure of Pre-Sentence or Probation
- Records
- 44.01 Generally