Thomas E. Johnston at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
- Jurisdiction
- West Virginia · Federal
- Judicial service
- April 17, 2006–present
Thomas E. Johnston
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Available research
Loading public docket analytics…
Loading public docket analytics…
Biography
Professional career
- U.S. attorney for the Northern Distict of West Virginia, 2001-2006
- Private practice, Wheeling, WV, 1994-2001
- Law clerk, Hon. Frederick P. Stamp, Jr., U.S. District Court, Northern Distict of West Virginia, 1992-1994
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, S.D. West Virginia, 2006-present
Education
- West Virginia University · B.A., 1989
- West Virginia University College of Law
Personal record
Born 1967 · Charleston, WV
Courtroom rules and guidance
Courtroom Technology
Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge.
. In order to reserve equipment, attorneys must file the Notice of Certification for Use of Courtroom Technology ( LR Civ P 7.1 [a][10] or LR Cr P 12.1 [e]) and contact the court's IT staff at 304/347- 3005. Appointments ideally should be scheduled at least one week prior to the court appearance.Courtroom Technology | Southern District of West Virginia | United States District Court ↗
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1392356CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1648/thomas-e-johnston/Courtroom Technology | Southern District of West Virginia | United States District Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.wvsd.uscourts.gov/attorneys/courtroom-technologyFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts