Rossie D. Alston Jr.

Rossie David Alston Jr. (born May 31, 1957) is a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He was formerly a Judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia after having previously been a judge in the Prince William County Circuit Court and the Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

Rossie D. Alston Jr.
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Assumed office
June 12, 2019
Appointed byDonald Trump
Preceded byGerald Bruce Lee
Judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia
In office
March 1, 2009 – June 12, 2019
Preceded byJean Harrison Clements
Judge of the Prince William County Circuit Court
In office
2001–2009
Judge of the Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
In office
1998–2001
Personal details
Born (1957-05-31) May 31, 1957
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Spouse(s)Carol Miller
EducationAverett University
North Carolina Central University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1975
Rank Private First Class

Biography

Alston graduated from Averett University in 1979 and obtained his law degree from the North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1982.[1] He began his career as a staff attorney for the National Labor Relations Board, a post he held for two years before going into private practice.[2] He was elected by the Virginia General Assembly to be a judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for the 31st Judicial District, encompassing Prince William County, in 1998. He was elected to the Prince William County Circuit Court in 2001. While on the circuit court, he presided over the case of John Allen Muhammad, the mastermind of the D.C. sniper attacks, which brought him national attention.[3] He was selected by his colleagues to be Chief Judge of the circuit court in 2007, when that position became vacant upon the elevation of LeRoy F. Millette Jr. to the Court of Appeals.[4] Alston was elevated to the Virginia Court of Appeals in 2009 to fill the vacancy created upon the retirement of Jean Harrison Clements.[5]

On March 4, 2016, the state Senate Courts of Justice Committee certified Alston as qualified for a seat on the Virginia Supreme Court after the Senate nominated him to be elected to a twelve-year term.[6] He was blocked by Democrats in the House of Delegates from joining the state Supreme Court.[7]

Federal judicial service

On June 7, 2018, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Alston to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.[2] He was Trump's second African-American federal judicial nominee.[7] On June 18, 2018, his nomination was sent to the United States Senate. Trump nominated Alston to the seat on the vacated by Gerald Bruce Lee, who retired on September 30, 2017.[8] On October 10, 2018, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[9]

On January 3, 2019, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the Senate. On January 23, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to renominate Alston Jr. for a federal judgeship.[10] His nomination was sent to the Senate later that day.[11] On February 7, 2019, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 20–2 vote.[12]

On June 5, 2019, the Senate voted to invoke cloture on Alston's nomination by 74–19.[13] On June 10, 2019, his nomination was confirmed by a 75–20 vote.[14] He received his judicial commission on June 12, 2019.

References
  1. Walker, Keith (February 12, 2009). "Rossie Alston Jr. appointed state judgeship". Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Richmond, Virginia. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  2. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Fifteenth Wave of Judicial Nominees, Fourteenth Wave of United States Attorney Nominees, and Ninth Wave of United States Marshal Nominees" White House, June 7, 2018 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Vargas, Theresa (November 29, 2007). "County Judges on Rise at Circuit, Appeals Courts". Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  4. Vargas, Theresa (November 29, 2007). "County Judges on Rise at Circuit, Appeals Courts". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  5. "Rossie D. Alston, Jr., March 1, 2009-present". Virginia Appellate Court History. November 25, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  6. Nolan, Jim (March 4, 2016). "Senate panel certifies Alston as qualified for Supreme Court". The Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  7. Weiner, Rachel (January 14, 2018). "Judge Rossie Alston expected to be nominated to federal bench in Virginia". Washington Post. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  8. "Seventeen Nominations and One Withdrawal Sent to the Senate Today", White House, June 18, 2018
  9. United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Nominations for October 10, 2018
  10. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Judicial Nominees", White House, January 23, 2019
  11. "Nominations Sent to the Senate", White House, January 23, 2019
  12. Results of Executive Business Meeting – February 7, 2019, Senate Judiciary Committee
  13. Roll Call Vote 116th Congress - 1st Session United States Senate Vote Summary: Vote Number 143, United States Senate, June 5, 2019
  14. Roll Call Vote 116th Congress - 1st Session United States Senate Vote Summary: Vote Number 146, United States Senate, June 10, 2019
Legal offices
Preceded by
Jean Harrison Clements		 Judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia
2009–2019		 Vacant
Preceded by
Gerald Bruce Lee		 Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
2019–present		 Incumbent
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