Stephen C. Mahan at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Stephen C. Mahan
Judge · Virginia Beach Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Presiding judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia, which covers Accomack County, Northampton County, and the City of Virginia Beach
Education
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) — College of William & Mary Law School, 1981
- Bachelor’s Degree — University of Virginia
Additional information
- In September 2026, Judge Mahan granted a $100,000 bond to Charles Randell Berry, a Connecticut man charged with capital murder and rape in a 40‐year‐old Virginia Beach cold case.
- The victim’s family and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office opposed the decision, calling it a miscarriage of justice.
- Berry was required to wear a GPS monitor as a condition of release.
- He presides over both civil and criminal cases within these jurisdictions, and is listed among the other presiding judges for the Virginia Beach Circuit Court.
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 ↗