Joseph Christian (July 28, 1828 – May 29, 1905) was born in Middlesex County, Virginia. He was educated at

Columbian College , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , preside ...

(now George Washington University) in Washington, D. C. and studied law at

Staunton, Virginia Staunton ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 25,750. In Virginia, independent cities a ...

. Admitted to the bar at the age of 21, he started practicing law in Middlesex and adjoining counties. In 1858, he was elected to the Virginia State Senate and served as a Senator during the American Civil War. He was elected circuit judge in 1866, for the circuit composed of the counties of Middlesex, Gloucester, Matthews, James City, Warwick, New Kent, Charles City and Henrico. He moved to Richmond in 1869 and formed a law partnership with

William T. Joynes William T. Joynes (November 8, 1817–March 15, 1874) was a Virginia lawyer, railroad president, politician and judge, who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Court of Appeals. Early and family life Joynes was born at a hou ...

. This partnership lasted until January 1, 1870 when both partners were elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals. Judge Christian served on the bench for twelve years. Being defeated for re-election in 1882, he returned to private practice. He died in Richmond.

References

Justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia Virginia lawyers 1828 births 1905 deaths People from Middlesex County, Virginia Columbian College of Arts and Sciences alumni Virginia state senators 19th-century American judges Virginia circuit court judges {{Virginia-VASenate-stub