Joseph W. Chinn

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:This article is about the Virginia Supreme Court justice. For the Virginia congressman, see Joseph Chinn.

Joseph W. Chinn (February 15, 1866 – August 16, 1936) was born on in Tappahannock, Virginia, but the family soon moved to Warsaw, Virginia, which became his home for the rest of his life. He attended Colonel Council’s School in King and Queen County and, after teaching for several years, decided to study law. He entered the University of Virginia Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1890. He began the practice of law in Warsaw. In 1891, he was elected Commonwealth’s Attorney for Richmond County, Virginia and served in that capacity for twenty-four years, resigning in 1915 to accept the position of judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. The Special Court of Appeals was formed in 1924 and, in 1925, Judge Chinn became a member of that court. He remained there until it was dissolved three years later. On December 3, 1931, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia and stayed on the bench until his death.