United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

4th Circuit Charleston, West Virginia

About This Court

Established as one of two federal judicial districts in West Virginia, the Southern District covers the southern half of the state, encompassing a large geographic area that includes the Appalachian coalfields, the New River Gorge region, and the state capital of Charleston. The district handles federal civil and criminal matters arising from communities spread across mountainous terrain, serving a population that includes rural counties with significant natural resource industries.

The court sits in several cities across its territory to accommodate litigants throughout the district. It has developed particular experience with complex litigation involving the energy sector, pharmaceutical opioid cases, and environmental matters that reflect the economic and public health challenges of the region.

As part of the Fourth Circuit, appeals from the Southern District of West Virginia are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which sits primarily in Richmond, Virginia.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of West Virginia.

Divisions

Charleston Division (Charleston), Beckley Division (Beckley), Bluefield Division (Bluefield), Huntington Division (Huntington)

Caseload

The court has been a significant venue for mass tort litigation, including multidistrict litigation involving opioid manufacturers and distributors, as well as cases involving coal mining, environmental regulations, and civil rights. Its docket reflects the region's industrial history and ongoing public health concerns.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Southern District of West Virginia by applying to the court's bar, which generally requires active membership in good standing with the West Virginia State Bar or admission to practice before a federal court of appeals or another federal district court.

Clerk's Office

300 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV 25301

(304) 529-5588

Active Judges 7

Name	Appointed By	Confirmed	Law School
Irene Berger	Barack Obama	2009	West Virginia University College of Law
Robert Chambers	William J. Clinton	1997	West Virginia University College of Law
John Copenhaver	Gerald Ford	1976	West Virginia University College of Law
David Faber	George H.W. Bush	1991	Yale Law School
Joseph Goodwin	William J. Clinton	1995	West Virginia University College of Law
Thomas Johnston	George W. Bush	2006	West Virginia University College of Law
Frank Volk	Donald J. Trump	2019	West Virginia University College of Law

Local Rules

131 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 86

Rule	Title
LR Civ P 11.1	Verification of Pleadings
LR Civ P 11.2	Stipulations
LR Civ P 12.1	Extensions of Answer Date
LR Civ P 16.1	Scheduling Conferences
LR Civ P 16.2	Case-Management Conferences in Complex Cases
LR Civ P 16.3	Pretrial Conferences in Non-Complex Cases
LR Civ P 16.4	Authority Regarding Settlement, Stipulations and Admissions at Conferences
LR Civ P 16.5	Sanctions
LR Civ P 16.6	Mediation
LR Civ P 16.6.1	Timing of Mediation
LR Civ P 16.6.2	Selection of Mediator; Notice of Nomination
LR Civ P 16.6.3	Appointment of Mediator
LR Civ P 16.6.4	Attendance at Mediation
LR Civ P 16.6.5	Mediation Statements; Confidentiality
LR Civ P 16.6.6	Impartiality of Mediator
LR Civ P 16.6.7	Compensation of Mediator
LR Civ P 16.6.8	Notification to Judicial Officer; Report of Mediator
LR Civ P 16.7	Final Pretrial and Settlement Conferences; Pretrial Order
LR Civ P 26.1	Control of Discovery
LR Civ P 26.2	Uniform Definitions in Discovery Requests
LR Civ P 26.3	Court Filings and Costs
LR Civ P 26.4	Clawback Orders, Protective Orders, and Sealed Documents
LR Civ P 26.5	Discovery of Electronically Stored Information
LR Civ P 3.1	Assignment of Cases
LR Civ P 3.2	Reassignment, Referral and Intra-District Transfer of Cases
LR Civ P 3.3	Assignment of Urgent Cases or Matters
LR Civ P 33.1	Interrogatories
LR Civ P 3.4	Local Filing Requirements
LR Civ P 34.1	Document Production
LR Civ P 3.5	Proceedings without Prepayment of Fees and Costs
LR Civ P 36.1	Admissions
LR Civ P 37.1	Discovery Disputes
LR Civ P 4.1	Waiver of Service
LR Civ P 4.1.1	Initiation of Civil Contempt Proceedings
LR Civ P 41.1	Dismissal of Actions
LR Civ P 4.1.2	Issues; Trial by Jury
LR Civ P 4.1.3	Order of the Court; Confinement of Contemnor
LR Civ P 43.1	Addressing the Court; Examination of Witnesses
LR Civ P 47.1	Trial Juries
LR Civ P 48.1	Contact with Jurors
LR Civ P 5.1	Filing Pleadings and Other Papers
LR Civ P 51.1	Cases to be Tried by Jury; Proposed Jury Instructions
LR Civ P 5.2.1	Privacy Protection for Filings Made with the Court
LR Civ P 52.1	Cases to be Tried by the Court; Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
LR Civ P 54.1	Fees and Costs
LR Civ P 58.1	Entry of Judgments and Orders
LR Civ P 6.1	Definitions
LR Civ P 65.1.1	Approval of Bonds
LR Civ P 67.1	Deposits Pursuant to FR Civ P 67
LR Civ P 67.2	Withdrawal of Money from the Court Registry
LR Civ P 7.1	Motion Practice
LR Civ P 71.1	Land Condemnation Actions; Manner of Filing, Docketing, Recording, and Reporting
LR Civ P 72.1	Authority of Magistrate Judges
LR Civ P 72.2	Effect of Magistrate Judge Ruling Pending Objection
LR Civ P 73.1	Special Designation of Magistrate Judges
LR Civ P 77.1	Principal Offices
LR Civ P 77.2	Divisions
LR Civ P 77.3	Sessions
LR Civ P 77.4	Court Library
LR Civ P 78.1	Hearing on Motions
LR Civ P 79.1	Custody and Disposition of Exhibits
LR Civ P 79.2	Removal of Papers from Custody of Clerk
LR Civ P 83.1	Admission of Attorneys
LR Civ P 83.10	Photography in and Broadcasting from the Courtroom
LR Civ P 83.11	Impoundment of Photography and Broadcasting Equipment
LR Civ P 83.12	Scheduling Conflicts
LR Civ P 83.13	Referral of Cases to Bankruptcy Court
LR Civ P 83.14	Appeal of a Bankruptcy Court Judgment, Order, or Decree to the District Court
LR Civ P 83.15	Courthouse Security
LR Civ P 83.2	Legal Assistance by Law Students
LR Civ P 83.3	Representation of Parties
LR Civ P 83.4	Withdrawal and/or Termination of Representation
LR Civ P 83.5	Pro se Appearances
LR Civ P 83.6	Admission of Visiting Attorneys
LR Civ P 83.7	Codes of Professional Conduct
LR Civ P 83.8	Bias and Prejudice
LR Civ P 83.9	Opening Statements and Closing Arguments to Jury
LR Civ P 9.1	Scope and Assignment
LR Civ P 9.2	Initiation of Action - Complaint
LR Civ P 9.3	Commissioner's Response
LR Civ P 9.4	Briefs
LR Civ P 9.5	Motions to Dismiss or Remand
LR Civ P 9.6	Petition or Motion for Attorney's Fees
LR Civ P 9.7	Electronic Filing
LR Civ P 9.8	Oral Argument
LR Civ P 9.9	Other Local Rules in Conflict

Criminal Rules 45

Rule	Title
LR Cr P 10.1	Arraignment and Plea
LR Cr P 12.1	Pretrial Motions
LR Cr P 16.1	Arraignment and Standard Discovery Requests
LR Cr P 18.1	Principal Offices
LR Cr P 18.2	Divisions
LR Cr P 23.1	Opening Statements in Criminal Trials
LR Cr P 24.1	Confidentiality of Juror Information
LR Cr P 26.1	Addressing the Court; Examination of Witnesses
LR Cr P 30.1	Jury Instructions
LR Cr P 31.1	Contact with Jurors
LR Cr P 32.1	Presentence Interview
LR Cr P 32.1.1	Modification or Revocation of Probation or Supervised Release
LR Cr P 32.2	Disclosure of Presentence Reports, Statement of Reasons and Probation Records
LR Cr P 32.3	Standard Conditions of Probation and Supervised Release in all Criminal Cases
LR Cr P 32.4	Standard and Optional Conditions of Probation and Supervised Release in all Sex Offense Cases
LR Cr P 44.1	Admission of Attorneys
LR Cr P 44.2	Legal Assistance by Law Students
LR Cr P 44.3	Representation of Parties
LR Cr P 44.4	Withdrawal and/or Termination of Representation
LR Cr P 44.5	Pro se Appearances
LR Cr P 44.6	Admission of Visiting Attorneys
LR Cr P 44.7	Code of Professional Conduct
LR Cr P 44.8	Bias and Prejudice
LR Cr P 46.1	Release from Custody
LR Cr P 49.1	Filing Papers
LR Cr P 49.1.1	Privacy Protection for Filings Made with the Court
LR Cr P 49.2	Filing by Facsimile or Electronic Means
LR Cr P 5.1	Initial Appearance
LR Cr P 53.1	Photography in and Broadcasting from Courtroom
LR Cr P 53.2	Impoundment of Photography and Broadcasting Equipment
LR Cr P 55.1	Custody and Disposition of Exhibits
LR Cr P 55.2	Removal of Papers from Custody of Clerk
LR Cr P 56.1	Sessions
LR Cr P 57.1	Courthouse Security
LR Cr P 58.1	Authority of Magistrate Judges in Misdemeanor Cases
LR Cr P 58.2	Assignment of Misdemeanors and Petty Offenses
LR Cr P 58.3	Petty Offenses
LR Cr P 59.1	General Authority of Magistrate Judges
LR Cr P 59.2	Statutory Duties
LR Cr P 59.3	Duties Under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure
LR Cr P 59.4	Miscellaneous Duties
LR Cr P 59.5	Assignment of Matters to Magistrate Judges by Division
LR Cr P 59.6	Other Duties Assigned and Matters Referred
LR Cr P 7.1	Assignment of Cases
LR Cr P 7.2	Reassignment, Referral and Intra-District Transfer of Cases

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 4th Circuit

District of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland District of South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Eastern District of North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Eastern District of Virginia Alexandria, Virginia Middle District of North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina Northern District of West Virginia Clarksburg, West Virginia Western District of North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina Western District of Virginia Roanoke, Virginia