Theresa W. Carter at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Theresa W. Carter
Judge · Culpeper General District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Notable milestone: First woman and African-American to be a full-time 16th District General District Court Judge
- Prior roles: Sole practitioner in private legal practice Guardian ad Litem Substitute judge for the 16th Judicial District Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Orange County, VA (10 years)
- Presiding Judge in the Culpeper General District Court and is also listed among the judges for the Greene General and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Combined Courts
Education
- B.A., University of Virginia J.D., William & Mary Law School, 1993
Additional information
- Joined the bench: 2018
- Judge of the 16th Judicial District Court of Virginia, serving as Presiding Judge in multiple courthouses, including Culpeper and Greene, and is the first woman and African-American to hold a full-time position on the 16th District General District Court bench.
- Appointed to the 16th Judicial District Court of Virginia, which covers the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Madison, and Orange.
- Judge Carter’s appointment marked a historic milestone in Virginia’s judicial history, reflecting diversity and representation on the state’s bench.
- Her career spans public service, private practice, and judicial leadership, and she continues to preside over a wide range of cases in her jurisdiction.
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 ↗