The Hon. Clifford L. Athey, Jr., is a judge for the Court of Appeals of Virginia. He was elected to the bench by the Virginia General Assembly on February 14, 2019, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of the Hon. Teresa M. Chafin.
Prior to his election, Athey was a judge for the 26th Judicial Circuit Court, a position to which he was named in 2012. Before that, he was an attorney in private practice, supplementing his work with service as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates (2002 to 2012).
Athey earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1990. He then completed a J.D. at the University of Dayton School of Law in 1993. He is licensed to practice in Virginia (1994), the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (1994), and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia.
His memberships have included the Warren County Bar Association. He has also been involved with the Front Royal Rotary Club, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Free and Accepted Masons, and he has served on the Board of Directors of Saint Luke’s Community Health Clinic.
He is a recipient of the Distinguished Legislator Award from Virginia MADD (2004), the Legislator of the Year Award from the Virginia Independent Baptists (2004), and the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Shenandoah Area Council of Boys Scouts of America (2005).
Born and raised in Front Royal, Virginia, Athey graduated from Warren County High School. He attends Front Royal United Methodist Church. Athey and his wife, Stacey Lynne Knox, have two children.
He is registered as a Republican.