About Judge Ashley

A native of Glenville, Judge Ashley was valedictorian of her graduating class at Gilmer County High School. She then attended Glenville State College, graduating summa cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in English, with minors in math and political science. She continued her education at WVU College of Law, graduating in 1981. At the time she was admitted to the practice of law, she was the youngest lawyer in the State of West Virginia.  

Judge Ashley began her career as lawyer in Grantsville, sharing office space with Phil Reale, who was then the elected part-time Calhoun County Prosecuting Attorney. After he left the position, she relocated the practice to Spencer.  In addition to maintaining a private practice, Judge Ashley spent thirteen years in the part-time position of Family Law Master (the position now named Family Court Judge) for Calhoun, Roane, and Jackson counties and was also an assistant prosecutor in Jackson County. 

As a lawyer with 35 years of practice before her election to the bench, Judge Ashley handled a variety of cases, giving her experience in many areas of law. She has handled multiple criminal and civil cases, and participated in numerous trials. She spent many days in family court, handling divorce, custody and other cases of that nature. In her practice, she also wrote various legal documents, including deeds, wills, powers of attorney, contracts, and the like. She also served as guardian ad litem for many children in the circuit, representing their best interests in child abuse and neglect cases. While these cases were often heartbreaking and sad, she has often said that these cases were the ones she felt were most important and where she felt she was making the most difference. 

In private practice, Judge Ashley was recognized and awarded for her work in the area of family law. She was named one of “The Best Lawyers in America” by U.S. News and World Report from 2012 to 2016 and one of “West Virginia’s Best Attorneys” by The State Journal. In 2014, she was named a National Top 10 Attorney by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys.  Prior to the opening of the Intermediate Court of Appeals in 2022, she was selected to provide specialized training to the justices in the area of family law. 

As a Circuit Judge, Judge Ashley was elected by her colleagues and served as President of the West Virginia Judicial Association in 2023.  In that role, she assisted in formulating a strategic plan for the judiciary and worked on various issues at the state legislature. In January 2023, she was honored by CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) as West Virginia’s Judge of the Year. She was also selected as a West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellow. In her everyday work as a Circuit Judge, she presides over dockets in each of the counties of the circuit and has handled several jury trials each year. Additionally, she oversees the very successful Roane-Calhoun Adult Drug Court and the Roane-Calhoun Family Treatment Court, both specialty courts designed to deal with the horrible drug crisis in our state. 

Anita Harold Ashley, currently in her eighth year as Circuit Judge,  is seeking reelection in Division 3 for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The circuit is comprised of four counties, Calhoun, Roane, Jackson, and Mason, and is served by three judges. While the candidates must run in all four counties, Judge Ashley is seeking reelection in the division which requires the judge to be a resident of Roane or Calhoun County.  Judge Ashley is a longtime resident of Spencer, where she lives with her husband, Bob. 

Judge Ashley is a member of Spencer Rotary, where she served as the first female president, was involved in establishing the Roane County College Scholarship Foundation, and is active in St. John’s United Methodist Church. She and her husband, Bob Ashley, a longtime former legislator, have two adult sons, Ben and Sam, and three grandchildren.

In explaining her goals, Judge Ashley says, “I’m seeking re-election because I believe I’m making a difference. In processing cases through the system, it is important that the citizens know and understand that they will be treated professionally and with respect, and that they will get a fair and just result. I’ve worked hard to assure that and I want to continue the great progress we have made. I would appreciate your vote and support in the May 14 election.”