---
title: "Elizabeth A. McClanahan | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan-5938"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Elizabeth A. McClanahan

Supreme Court of Virginia · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of Virginia
- State: Virginia
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Supreme Court of Virginia, 2011-present
- Following this, she was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia on September 1, 2011, serving until her retirement on September 1, 2019
- Before her judicial appointments, McClanahan also held significant legal roles, including Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia and partner at the law firm Penn, Stuart & Eskridge.

### Education

- College of William and Mary — B.A.
- University of Dayton — J.D.
- University of Dayton School of Law

### Additional information

- During her judicial career, she was honored as one of the "Influential Women of Virginia" in 2011 for her contributions to the legal field.
- Elizabeth Ann McClanahan was appointed to the Virginia Court of Appeals in 2003, where she served for eight years until 2011, earning recognition for her fair and thoughtful rulings.
- Judge, 2010-2010
- Date of birth: 1959-09-01
- The fourth female to be elected to the court.
- After retiring from the Supreme Court, she continued her professional contributions as President and Dean of the Appalachian School of Law and later as CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation, while also serving as a mediator for legal disputes.
- Her judicial experience spans a wide range of legal areas, reflecting her expertise and leadership in Virginia’s legal system.
- Birth place: Buchanan County

## 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.courtlistener.com/person/5938/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5938/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan/)
- [Supreme Court of Virginia current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5938/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan/)
- [Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy](https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/node/30/cell-phone-electronic-device-policy)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5938/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan/)
- [Elizabeth McClanahan - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Elizabeth_McClanahan)
- [Wikidata: Elizabeth A. McClanahan](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5362264)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan-5938",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan-5938",
      "name": "Elizabeth A. McClanahan | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Elizabeth A. McClanahan, Supreme Court of Virginia. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-09",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan-5938#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan-5938#judge",
      "name": "Elizabeth A. McClanahan",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan-5938",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Supreme Court of Virginia"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/5938/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1959-09-01",
      "birthPlace": "Buchanan County",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "College of William and Mary"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Dayton"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Dayton School of Law"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "Elizabeth A. McClanahan",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/elizabeth-a-mcclanahan-5938"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```