The Hon. Joseph M. Clarke, II (deceased) was a judge for the 23rd Judicial District Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court of Virginia. He joined the bench as an interim judge in 1988 and was elected by the Virginia General Assembly as a full-time judge in 1989.
The 23rd Judicial District includes the Cities of Roanoke and Salem and Roanoke County.
Prior to beginning his judicial career, Clarke was in private practice at Dodson, Pence, Viar, Young & Woodrum. Before joining the firm, he was an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Roanoke County, where he started his legal career.
Clarke is also credited with compiling the Virginia Criminal Law Case Finder in 1987 and developing its subsequent editions.
He received a B.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1974. Clarke then completed a J.D. at the University of Richmond School of Law in 1978.
His memberships included the Virginia State Bar, the American Bar Association, the American Judges Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the Virginia Council of Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judges, the Association of Trial Lawyers in America, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
Clarke was also involved with the Best Practice Court Initiative and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Roanoke Valley.
Born in Roanoke, Virginia, he passed away on July 19, 2014, in Cusco City, Peru.