Born and reared in the Pacific Northwest, spent the summers of his youth in Southwestern Wyoming, went to college in South Carolina, but chose to make his home in North Central West Virginia where he has practiced law for the last 20 years.

Paul’s mother sold candy for See’s Candies when he was in elementary school, and his father has worked for the same Post Office in Lynnwood, Washington, for the last 45 years.  Paul remembers his mother leaving for work very early in the morning to take the bus to work in Seattle and returning late in the evenings.  In addition to his work at the Post Office, Paul’s father also coached basketball and track at a local middle school, and eventually coached high school track for many years.  His parents taught him the value of hard work, competition, and education. In the summers, he went to Southwestern Wyoming to spend time with his grandparents and otherwise keep them on their toes. In Wyoming, he loved spending time at the Flaming Gorge, trout fishing, and riding around Green River on a bicycle with friends.  Like many small mining towns in West Virginia, Green River was a community driven by the mines.

In high school he played basketball, ran track, and served in student government.  It was playing basketball where he learned his love of defense that has carried through to his practice (probably because he could not shoot very well).  It was in student government that he learned the importance of understanding other’s points of view for purpose of seeking common ground.  Following graduation, he went on to attend Bob Jones University in the fall of 1995.  It was a bit of a culture shock for Paul to leave the moderate climate of the Pacific Northwest for the humidity of the South.  

At Bob Jones he majored in Prelaw which provided him with a broad liberal arts education.  It has been said that a good trial attorney is nothing more than a good communicator.  Having a liberal arts education (history, psychology, philosophy, sociology, religion, and political theory) has provided Paul with a firm foundation upon which to find common ground with all.  The ability to communicate a client’s position in a way that a prosecutor, judge, or jury understands the merits of the defense is what sets one attorney apart from another.  Successfully communicating in terms that are appreciated by a particular audience takes an understanding of the different backgrounds from which we all come. 

While in German class his sophomore year at Bob Jones, he met the love of his life, and they married in Fairmont after his junior year of college. He and his new bride returned to Bob Jones for a semester, and then they moved to her hometown of Fairmont while he completed his studies by correspondence (much different than it would be now in the world of online classes).  In August 2000, he received his bachelor’s degree and began law school at West Virginia University College of Law.  During law school, he was on law review, worked for a local law firm, and his wife gave birth to their two daughters (Irish twins he likes to call them).  He graduated from the College of Law in the top 15% of his class.  

In October 2003, Paul was sworn in as a member of the bar as his youngest looked on in the gallery.  For the first 17 years of his practice, he focused on civil defense and was active in state and federal courts in West Virginia.  In December 2020, he left civil law to pursue his passion of trying criminal cases. 

At no point in one’s life are the stakes higher than when the government is attempting to take that person’s liberty.   One of the scariest times in a person’s life is when the officer says, “Place your hands behind your back.”  Paul founded Gwaltney Law Office with the goal of assisting those accused of committing crimes.  From December 2020 until May 2023, Paul thrived as a criminal defense attorney knowing that he was his client’s champion for justice.  In April 2023, a judge in Monongalia County retired, and Paul saw an opportunity to serve his community in a very unique role.  After going through the application process and an interview with the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission, he was appointed Circuit Judge by Governor Justice.  On June 2, 2023, he took the oath of office and began a 19 month break from Gwaltney Law Office to serve Monongalia County. 

As a Circuit Court Judge, Paul presided over a variety of cases including felonies, civil disputes, juvenile abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquent cases, and administrative appeals. Over his 19 months as Circuit Court Judge, he presided over several criminal trials including a murder-kidnapping trial and countless juvenile hearings.  (He also found time to do a wedding or two.)  You may have heard the phrase “motion practice” in the media, a television show, or movie, but you did not know what it means. Having held numerous motions hearings and overseen several trials, Paul understands the importance of pretrial motions to protect his clients in the event of trial. The last thing a criminal defendant wants to read when he or she has lost an appellate case is that the trial court committed “harmless error,” which is the expression the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia uses to excuse a trial court’s incorrect evidentiary rulings, but the rulings simply did not affect the end result (or so the Supreme Court asserts by fiat). Having presided over criminal trials, Paul understands that best practice involves filing motions to have the Court address the issues before trial as opposed to doing it in the middle of it with each juror looking on intently wondering and speculating why the lawyer is trying to hide this information from the jury. 

With his term as Judge at an end, Paul is looking forward to advocating for those whose liberty is at stake. Having served as both defense attorney and judge, Paul understands the importance of having a creative advocate that understands the limitations and constraints that judges and prosecutors face daily.  Whether it is a dismissal, mitigation, or trial that you are looking for, Paul understands the complexities of each type of case and resolution.  As a former judge, he understands what a judge looks for throughout the pendency of a case.

You may ask, why do I care that my lawyer has lived in several different parts of the country, was a civil lawyer for years, or served as a Circuit Court Judge? These pieces of Paul’s life are certainly not as important as his knowledge of the law or his ability to communicate, but it is important to have someone with a broad background who can come into your case to look at it from various angles.  He understands that passion for a client’s case comes from getting to know the client, and it is difficult for clients to share with him unless he has shared with his clients.  Whether it is simple conversation about the weather, sports, politics, or religion, or arguing a complex legal issue before a jury, judge, or the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Paul has found ways of communicating his client’s passion and cause to others in difficult settings.

If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime or your child has been charged as a delinquent, do not delay, contact Paul to discuss your case. He looks forward to using his skills as an advocate to be your champion in the courtroom.