Rossie D. Alston Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rossie D. Alston Jr.
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
| Assumed office June 12, 2019 |
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| Appointed by | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Gerald Bruce Lee |
| Judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia | |
| In office March 1, 2009 – June 12, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Jean Harrison Clements |
| Judge of the Prince William County Circuit Court | |
| In office 2001–2009 |
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| Judge of the Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court | |
| In office 1998–2001 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rossie David Alston Jr.
May 31, 1957 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Spouse | Carol Miller |
| Education | Averett University (BA) North Carolina Central University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1975 |
| Rank |  Private First Class |
| Awards |
See list
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Rossie David Alston Jr. (born May 31, 1957) is an American lawyer and judge. He currently serves as a district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He was chosen for this important role by President Donald Trump in 2019.
Before becoming a federal judge, he was a judge on the Court of Appeals of Virginia. He also served as a judge in the Prince William County Circuit Court and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
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Early Life and Education
Rossie Alston Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. on May 31, 1957. He went to Averett University and graduated in 1979. After that, he studied law at the North Carolina Central University School of Law, earning his law degree in 1982.
After law school, he worked as a lawyer for a government agency for two years. Then, he started his own law practice.
A Career in Law and Justice
Rossie Alston Jr. has had a long and important career as a judge. He has served at different levels of the court system.
Becoming a Judge
In 1998, state lawmakers chose him to be a judge for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. This court handles cases involving young people and families in Prince William County.
In 2001, he became a judge for the Prince William County Circuit Court. This court handles more serious cases. While on this court, he oversaw a very important case involving the D.C. sniper attacks. This case brought him national attention. In 2007, his fellow judges chose him to be the Chief Judge of the circuit court.
Moving to the Court of Appeals
In 2009, Judge Alston was promoted to the Virginia Court of Appeals. This court reviews decisions made by lower courts. He served there until 2019.
Judge Alston is known for being fair but firm, especially in cases involving serious crimes. He once said, "If you deserve the hammer, you're getting the hammer." In one unique case, a father whose child died in a hot van was given a sentence that included spending a day in jail each year on the anniversary of his daughter's death and organizing an annual blood drive in her name.
In 2016, he was considered for a seat on the Virginia Supreme Court, the highest court in the state. However, he was not chosen for that position at the time.
Becoming a Federal Judge
On June 7, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his plan to nominate Judge Alston to become a United States district judge. This is a very important role in the federal court system. His nomination was sent to the United States Senate for approval.
After a hearing and votes in the Senate, his nomination was confirmed on June 10, 2019. He officially received his judicial commission on June 12, 2019.
Notable Federal Case
In December 2023, Judge Alston was involved in a case about the removal of a Confederate Monument at Arlington National Cemetery. This monument was built in 1914. Some groups wanted it removed, while others wanted it to stay.
Judge Alston first issued a temporary order to stop the removal. This was because a group claimed that parts of the monument were being damaged. However, after looking into the claims himself and holding a hearing, Judge Alston allowed the removal to continue. He found no evidence that graves were being disturbed, which was a main concern of the group trying to stop the removal.
See also
