Welch Circuit Court is the Eighth Circuit Court of McDowell County in the Judicial Circuit Court system of West Virginia.

Where Welch was once riding high with the wealth brought in from the coal industry; it now suffers from economic instability and a population left with joblessness, illiteracy, poverty and a crumbling infrastructure due to the downturn in this industry. However the community of James Madison University is now involved, through the volunteering efforts of its teachers and students, in reviving the community of Welch. The effort involves the reconstruction of buildings in Welch and helping to educate the young students; an ongoing effort.