Judge Ashley was elected in May 2016 to a new seat in the Fifth Judicial Circuit (Calhoun, Jackson, Mason, and Roane Counties). Her term began January 1, 2017.
A Glenville native, she has a 1978 bachelor’s degree in English, summa cum laude, from Glenville State College and a 1981 law degree from West Virginia University College of Law.
At the time of her election, Judge Ashley had been in private practice for 35 years. She was a Family Law Master from 1986 to 1989 and a Jackson County assistant prosecutor in 2002. During her tenure as a Family Law Master, Judge Ashley served on the Judicial Investigation Commission and on several select committees of the Supreme Court.
She was named one of “The Best Lawyers in America” by US News &World Report from 2012 to 2016 and one of “West Virginia’s Best Attorneys” by The State Journal from 2012 to 2016. She was named a National Top 10 Attorney by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys in 2014.
She is a member of the American Bar Association and West Virginia State Bar, Spencer Rotary (serving as its first female president), Roane County College Scholarship Foundation, Roane County Chamber of Commerce, and St. John’s United Methodist Church. She also has been an active volunteer with scouting organizations.
Judge Ashley is married to Bob Ashley, a former legislator. They are the parents of two adult sons, Ben and Sam.