Restorative Justice Skill-Building Institute Hosted at WVU College of Law

Morgantown, WV – On Friday, June 13^th, 2025, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, the WV Restorative Justice Project will host a skill-building institute at the West Virginia University College of Law, featuring nationally recognized restorative justice practitioners Judge Wesley St. Clair and Tracey Battle.

The Institute is for participants to learn and connect through a day of immersive skills-based sessions in circle keeping and restorative justice dialogues.  Spaces are still available with a $60 registration fee, which includes the training, continuing education credits (if applicable), a continental breakfast, and lunch.  The institute is approved for the following CEUs/CLEs: 

• Attorneys: Approved for 7.8 CLE credits
• Addiction and Prevention Professionals: Approved for 7.0 CEU credits
• Social Workers: 6.75 CEU credits pending approval

According to the National Center on Restorative Justice, restorative justice is defined as “both a set of practices and a broad philosophy with applicability across contexts. Restorative justice has several core philosophical features, including a focus on identifying needs and repairing harm, active accountability, centering relationships and community, and voluntary participation. Contemporary restorative justice practice and philosophy have roots and resonances with various Indigenous, religious, and other cultural traditions from around the world.”

The organizer of the institute, the WV Restorative Justice Project, is a newly formed 501©3 in West Virginia, whose mission is to promote a culture of restorative justice by offering restorative justice learning and networking opportunities throughout the state.  For more information and to register, visit https://www.wvrjp.org.

TRAINER BIOS

Judge Wesley Saint Clair
A respected national leader in restorative justice and judicial innovation, Judge Saint Clair has been a pioneer in bringing restorative practices into the courtroom, especially in juvenile justice. His leadership and deep understanding of community-centered justice make him a compelling and insightful trainer. Judge Saint Clair is a neutral participant with JAMS. He enjoyed a 30-year career as a judge in the King County court system. Judge Saint Clair began his judicial career as a judge in the Northeast Division of the King County District Court and later served as a trial judge on the King County Superior Court. He presided over thousands of cases and conducted settlement and pretrial conferences, where he skillfully handled numerous case types, including business/commercial, complex personal injury, and product liability. Judge Saint Clair was named Outstanding Judge of the Year by the King County Bar Association (2003). He is also a recipient of the King County Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award (2009) . Watch Judge Saint Clair’s TED talk about restorative justice and juvenile offenders here.

Tracey Battle
A restorative justice facilitator with more than 20 years of experience, Tracey Battle specializes in trauma-informed victim-offender dialogue. She has worked with courts, schools, and community organizations nationwide, and is widely recognized for her skilled, compassionate approach to building accountability and healing. Tracey is a district restorative justice specialist with the District of Columbia public schools and an adjunct professor at Bowie State University.