The Hon. Joshua P. DeFord is a judge for the 9th Judicial District Court of Virginia. He was elected to the bench by the Virginia General Assembly on February 23, 2021.
The 9th Judicial District encompasses the Cities of Charles City and Williamsburg as well as the Counties of Gloucester, James City, King William, King and Queen, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, and York.
Prior to his election, DeFord was an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for the Williamsburg-James City County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, a position to which he was named in 2012.
DeFord earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from the College of William & Mary. He then completed a J.D. at William & Mary Law School in 2010. He is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia (2011) and Virginia.
After graduating from law school, DeFord entered into private practice in Washington, D.C. He worked as an associate at both Howrey and Baker & Hostetler, where he specialized in complex litigation and antitrust matters.