West Virginia Code
Article 6. Trial
§56-6-11. Execution of Order of Inquiry and Trial of Case by Court; Six-Member Jury in Civil Trials; Twelve-Member Jury in Eminent Domain and Criminal Trials

(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

West Virginia Code

Chapter 56. Pleading and Practice

Article 6. Trial

§56-6-1. Law Docket

§56-6-2. Chancery Docket

§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

§56-6-11. Execution of Order of Inquiry and Trial of Case by Court; Six-Member Jury in Civil Trials; Twelve-Member Jury in Eminent Domain and Criminal Trials

§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

§56-6-17. View by Jury

§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

§56-6-24. Argument of Counsel

§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

§56-6-28. New Trial

§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

§56-6-36a. Settling, Signing and Certifying Bill of Exceptions or Certificate in Lieu Thereof by Judge Other Than Judge Before Whom Case Was Tried

§56-6-37. How Certificate of Trial Judge or Bills of Exceptions to Be Considered; Instructions in Transcript All Presumed to Be Given by Court

§56-6-38. Hearing of Chancery Causes in Open Court; Oral Testimony; Rules of Evidence; Transcript for Appeal

§56-6-39. Hearing of Motion; Action or Chancery Cause in Vacation; Certification, Entry and Effect of Order or Decree

§56-6-40. Contempt Proceedings in Vacation

§56-6-41. Certification and Entry of Vacation Orders