Tanishka V. Cruz at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- 411 E. High Street
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Tanishka V. Cruz
Judge · 411 E. High Street
Biography
Professional career
- She led the firm from 2017 until May 2026, when she transitioned from private practice to judicial service
- Staff Attorney at the Legal Aid Justice Center’s Immigrant Advocacy Program (2015–2018)
- Law Clerk for Krasner, Hughes, and Long, LLC and Sach Law Group, LLC
- Judge of the Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for the 16th Judicial Circuit, serving in Charlottesville, Virginia, and previously the founder of Cruz Law PLLC
- Listed as a Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court judge in the 16th Judicial District of Virginia, which covers Louisa and Fluvanna counties
Education
- J.D. from Drexel University School of Law and a B.A. in Journalism, Public Relations, and Advertising from Temple University.
Additional information
- Clinic Supervisor for the UVA Immigration Clinic (2017–2018).
- Before joining the bench, Cruz was the founder and owner of Cruz Law, PLLC, a Charlottesville-based boutique firm specializing in immigration and family law.
- Judicial Intern for the Hon. M. Teresa Sarmina, Court of Common Pleas.
- The court schedule shows she handles advisements, bond, compliance reviews, juvenile trials, and other family law matters on designated Mondays and Wednesdays.
- She presides over cases involving juvenile delinquency, child custody, domestic relations, and related matters.
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 ↗