(a) The court, in an action at law, if neither party requires a jury, or if the defendant has failed to appear and the plaintiff does not require a jury, shall ascertain the amount the plaintiff is entitled to recover in the action, if any, and render judgment accordingly. In any case, in which a trial by jury would be otherwise proper, the parties or their counsel, by consent entered of record, may waive the right to have a jury, and thereupon the whole matter of law and fact shall be heard and determined, and judgment given by the court. Absent such waiver, in any civil trial a jury shall consist of six members and in any criminal trial a jury shall consist of twelve members.
(b) The provisions of this section do not apply to any proceeding had pursuant to article two, chapter fifty-four of this code, the provisions of which apply to all cases involving the taking of property for a public use.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 56. Pleading and Practice
§56-6-3. Application for Hearing
§56-6-4. Direction and Trial of Issues Out of Chancery
§56-6-5. Trial of Action at Law; Separate Verdicts on Different Issues; Interrogatories to Jury
§56-6-6. Time for Trial, Execution of Order and Rendering of Final Judgment
§56-6-7. Continuance Upon Affidavit Because of Absence of Witness
§56-6-8. Continuance of Causes at End of Term
§56-6-9. Case Not to Be Discontinued by Failure to Sign Judgment
§56-6-10. Stay of Proceedings Until Other Action, Suit or Proceeding Decided
§56-6-12. Qualifications of Jurors; Examination on Voir Dire; Peremptory Challenges
§56-6-12a. Alternate Jurors for Protracted Civil Cases; Qualifications and Challenges
§56-6-13. Special Jury in Civil Cases
§56-6-14. Juror Having Matter of Fact to Be Tried Disqualified
§56-6-15. Exceptions Against Jurors After Being Sworn
§56-6-16. Irregularities Affecting the Jury; Time for Objection
§56-6-18. Disclosure by Juror of Knowledge of Facts in Issue
§56-6-19. Instructions to Jury Generally; Form and Manner of Giving
§56-6-20. Reading Instructions to Jury; Instructions Part of Record
§56-6-21. Time for Examining Instructions, Objecting Thereto and Settlement Thereof
§56-6-22. Oral Instructions by Court; Written Instructions During Trial
§56-6-23. Papers Taken by Jury
§56-6-25. Time Limitation as to Nonsuit
§56-6-26. How Verdict May Be Affected by Faulty Count
§56-6-27. Interest on Claim and Verdict
§56-6-29. Judgment or Decree to Be for Aggregate of Principal and Interest to Date of Verdict
§56-6-30. Action on Contract for Payments in Installments or on Bond With Collateral Condition
§56-6-31. Interest on Judgment or Decree
§56-6-32. Recovery Against One or More Contract Defendants
§56-6-33. Judgment or Decree Against Personal Representative or Committee; Costs
§56-6-34. Issuance of Executions During Term
§56-6-35. Bills of Exceptions Generally
§56-6-36. Certificate in Lieu of Bill of Exceptions