Stuart A. Raphael at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Stuart A. Raphael
Judge · Court of Appeals of Virginia
Biography
Professional career
- Stuart A. Raphael has held the role of a nonpartisan judge on the Virginia Court of Appeals since September 1, 2021, following election by the Virginia General Assembly on August 10, 2021
- Judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals, appointed in 2021 to a term ending in 2029, with a career that includes private practice, service as Virginia’s Solicitor General, and high-profile appellate litigation
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law — J.D. (1989)
- in Social Studies, Harvard University — B.A. (1986)
Additional information
- His eight-year term runs until August 31, 2029, and the seat was created by Senate Bill 1261, which expanded the court from 11 to 17 judges.
- One of eight new judges appointed in 2021 under a Democratic-led General Assembly, part of a broader effort to expand the court’s jurisdiction and increase diversity.
- Practiced law in Fairfax, Richmond, and Washington, D.C., from 1989 to 2014 and again from 2017 to 2021.
- Solicitor General of Virginia from 2014 to 2017
- representing the Commonwealth in appellate cases, including a notable argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in Virginia v.
- Maryland over Potomac River water rights.
- focusing on appellate litigation, constitutional law, and complex cases.
- At Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, he held the role of co-chair of the Issues and Appeals Group
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 ↗