Joseph W. Chinn

:"This article is about the Virginia Supreme Court justice. For the Virginia congressman, see Joseph Chinn."Joseph W. Chinn (February 13,1866 – August 16, 1936) was born at the Brockenbrough house in Tappahannock, Virginia to Joseph W. Chinn and Gabriella Brockenbrough. Judge Chinn was raised at his family home, Wilna, in Richmond County, south of Warsaw, Virginia, . 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.Judge Chinn married Sarah Fairfax Douglas at St Johns Episcopal Church in Warsaw on December 14,1899. They had five children, Betty Landon (4/22/03), Joseph William(6/4/04), Sarah Fairfax (9/30/05), Austin Brockenbrough (5/8/08) and Mary Douglas (10/1/10).He was a lifelong democrat and faithful member of St Johns Episcopal Church in Warsaw, VA and served as a vestryman for many years. He was the first president and a director of the Northern Neck State Bank in Warsaw, VA. He was also director of the Northern Neck Telephone and Telegraph of Warsaw and served on the board of directors at University of Virginia.Judge Chinn died in Battle Creek, MI, where he had gone for treatment for his empheysema, on August 16, 1936. He is buried at St Johns Episcopal Church, Warsaw, VA.