Former Circuit Court Judge Joseph Troisi made State and National Headlines for biting the nose of a defendant (1997)

Former Circuit Court Judge Joseph Troisi resigned from his judicial office in 1997 following an incident where he took off his robe, stepped to the front of the judge’s bench and had an altercation with a criminal defendant who made derogatory remarks about him. During the altercation, Troisi bit the man on the nose.

In addition to resigning as a judge, Troisi was ordered to spend five days in jail. This circuit court judge brought national attention to West Virginia when the National Enquirer (July 29, 1997) wrote a story on the incident titled, “Defendant claims: Judge bit off my nose!”

West Virginia Media Headlines:

• Nose-biting judge gets 5 days in jail, Charleston Gazette, November 27, 1997
• A biting matter. Judge should have stepped down sooner after losing temper in court, Editorial – Martinsburg Journal, October 27, 1997
• Troisi. Judges have enormous power; they must meet high standards, Editorial, Charleston Daily Mail, November 24, 1997
• It’s time Troisi resigns his post, Editorial – Register-Herald, October 13, 1997
• A judge is benched, Editorial – Clarksburg Exponent, September 22, 1997
• Troisi. Justices correctly suspended the pay of this troubled judge, Editorial – Charleston Daily Mail, September 22, 1997
• Biting judge. Suspend Troisi without pay, Editorial – Charleston Gazette, August 13, 1997
• Troisi. Nose-biting aside, this judge needs to develop his self-control, Editorial – Charleston Daily Mail, July 19, 1997

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