Claire G. Cardwell at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Claire G. Cardwell
Judge · Richmond Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- She previously held the role of a Richmond General District Court Judge from July 1, 2017, to September 30, 2021
- Opened a private practice in 1989 focusing on criminal defense and civil litigation.
- Acted as capital defender for the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
Education
- University of Richmond School of Law — J.D.
Additional information
- Appointed as a special judge in Portsmouth in 2020 for a high‐profile case involving charges related to a Confederate monument protest; she dismissed the charges.
- held the role of Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney for Richmond starting in 1994.
- Began legal career in 1984.
- Date of birth: 1958
- Virginia Circuit Court for the City of Richmond, part of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.
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 ↗