C
harleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin is recommending former Assistant City Attorney Joseph Baldwin as the new city attorney. The recommendation is expected to be considered by city council during their January 5, 2026 meeting.
Baldwin is experienced in municipal law, appellate practice, and public service, Goodwin said.
Baldwin’s legal experience includes service as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Daniel W. Greear at the Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia, where he gained experience across a broad range of legal areas. From 2019 to 2022, he served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Charleston, focusing on municipal taxation, litigating cases before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and Circuit Courts, drafting legislation, and advising on municipal matters. His earlier experience includes clerkships in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit and work in private practice handling civil, criminal, and estate matters.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to step into the role of city attorney for the City of Charleston and continue serving the community where I grew up,” Baldwin said.
A native of Charleston’s West Side, Baldwin is a graduate of Capital High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, cum laude, from West Virginia State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law, where he received a Certificate of Concentration in Criminal Law with distinction and multiple academic honors.
Baldwin lives in Charleston with his wife, Ronda, and their three children: Joseph Jr., Madison, and Wyatt.
