Photographic portrait, 2015

Born 1955 in Lebanon, Virginia.

Elected by the General Assembly on May 14, 2012 to an eight-year term beginning June 1, 2012, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of James Haley, Jr. Service terminated by election to the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Education:
Emory and Henry College, B.A., 1978
University of Richmond, J.D., 1987

Other judicial service:
Judge, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Twenty-Ninth Judicial District, 2002-2005.
Judge, Twenty-Ninth Judicial Circuit, 2005-2012 (chief judge, 2008-2009).
Justice, Supreme Court of Virginia, 2019-present.

Professional career:
Private practice of law in Lebanon, Virginia, 1987-2002.

Sources:
Elected, Journal of the House of Delegates, 2012 Special Session I, 347; elected juvenile and domestic relations judge, Journals of the Senate of Virginia, 2002 Regular Session, 1414; elected circuit court judge, Journals of the Senate of Virginia, 2005 Regular Session, 1170; biography, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, 2001, VA233B; see also Peter Vieth, “Chafin Elected to Court of Appeals,” Virginia Lawyers Weekly, May 17, 2012, retrieved from valawyersweekly.com on December 2, 2014. Digital image of photographic portrait by Michael Hart, 2016.