---
title: "Claire G. Cardwell | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/claire-g-cardwell-va-richmond-circuit-court"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-02"
---

# Claire G. Cardwell

Richmond Circuit Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Richmond Circuit Court
- State: Virginia
- Role: Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## 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.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### cell phones and electronic devices

Scope: 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.

Evidence excerpt: 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](https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/node/30/cell-phone-electronic-device-policy)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.vacourts.gov/static/directories/judges_rule115.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://www.vacourts.gov/static/directories/judges_rule115.pdf)
- [Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia official judicial roster](https://www.vacourts.gov/static/directories/judges_rule115.pdf)
- [Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy](https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/node/30/cell-phone-electronic-device-policy)
- [Official biography source for Claire G. Cardwell](https://www.vacourts.gov/static/directories/judges_rule115.pdf)
- [Wikidata: Claire G. Cardwell](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114349482)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/claire-g-cardwell-va-richmond-circuit-court",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/claire-g-cardwell-va-richmond-circuit-court",
      "name": "Claire G. Cardwell | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Claire G. Cardwell, Richmond Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-08-02",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/claire-g-cardwell-va-richmond-circuit-court#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/claire-g-cardwell-va-richmond-circuit-court#judge",
      "name": "Claire G. Cardwell",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/claire-g-cardwell-va-richmond-circuit-court",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Richmond Circuit Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.vacourts.gov/static/directories/judges_rule115.pdf"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1958"
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Virginia",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/virginia"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Claire G. Cardwell",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/claire-g-cardwell-va-richmond-circuit-court"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```