Our Team.

Drew Crislip

Honorable M. Drew Crislip, a native of Harrison County, is a graduate of the WVU College of Law. His career has included service as Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge Robert J. Staker, Southern District of West Virginia; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (VA matters); private practice; county board of education legal counsel; Administrative Law Judge at both state and federal levels; Assistant General Counsel, FBI; and 15 years as Family Court Judge with primary assignment to Harrison County. In the latter role, he worked closely with Child Protective Services, was a member of two statewide task forces on domestic violence, and chaired the West Virginia Supreme Court's Committee on Judicial Assistance & Intervention, working with judicial officers dealing with addiction, disease, or other issues posing challenges to their work and effective administration of justice.

He has received training from the National Judicial College and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and he also participated in the Judicial Improvement Project at the University of Memphis. Through the JIP, he developed a presentation on the relationship between gender and domestic violence and, with partnership of St. Jude's Medical & Research Center, studied the potential effects of pandemic on court processes especially as they relate to children.

In addition, Judge Crislip facilitated sessions on the intersection of youth ministry and law at an international youthworkers' conference, and has authored several magazine articles on the topic. He has taught in the Legal Studies programs at both Fairmont State University and Marshall University. 

Judge Crislip and his wife Annette live in the Charleston area, and have five grown children and (currently!) eight grandchildren.