Areshini Pather at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- 411 E. High Street
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Areshini Pather
Judge · 411 E. High Street
Biography
Professional career
- Judge of the 16th Judicial District Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court of Virginia, serving since her election by the Virginia General Assembly in 2022
- 2005–2011: Assistant Public Defender, Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
- 2004–2005: Law clerk, City of Roanoke
- Presiding Judge: She is listed as a Presiding Judge for the Louisa Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and also appears on the Albemarle court roster
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law — J.D. (2004)
- Political and Social Thought & Women’s Studies, University of Virginia — B.A. (2001)
Additional information
- Elected to the bench in 2022 to fill a vacancy caused by Judge Richard E. Moore’s retirement.
- 2018–2022: Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, Charlottesville.
- 2011–2018: Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, Charlottesville, prosecuting domestic violence, intimate partner adult cases, child abuse/neglect, child sexual assault, and felonies.
- Pather was raised in South Africa, immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager, and has spoken about the influence of her experiences under apartheid on her legal philosophy.
- She has described her career as working “on both sides of the aisle,” valuing compassion for both victims and those charged with crimes.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Cell Phones And Electronic Devices
Statewide
Virginia courts commonly restrict cell phones and other electronic devices in court buildings; counsel and litigants should check the local court policy before arrival.
Most courts in Virginia do not allow you to bring a cell phone or other electronic device into the building.Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia official judicial roster ↗Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy ↗