Robert E. Payne at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia · Federal
- Judicial service
- May 13, 1992–present
Robert E. Payne
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Available research
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AI abuse cases
1 caseAI-related ruling · June 2, 2025
Powhatan County School Board v. Skinger et al
- Court response
- Relevant motions stricken
Biography
Professional career
- Professional Career: Private practice, Richmond, Virginia, 1971-1992
- Private practice, Richmond, VA, 1971-1992
- U.S. Army, JAG Corps, 1967-1971
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, E.D. Virginia, 1992-2007
Education
- Washington and Lee University · B.A., 1963
- Washington and Lee University School of Law · J.D., 1967
Personal record
Born 1941 · Mount Sterling, KY
Courtroom rules and guidance
Presentation Procedure
Courtwide presentation-related guidance applies to this judge.
Evidence Presentation System . EVIDENCE PRESENTATION SYSTEMS . The Court’s evidence presentation system allows attorneys to : .Evidence Presentation System | Eastern District of Virginia | United States District Court ↗
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1386181CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/2523/robert-e-payne/Evidence Presentation System | Eastern District of Virginia | United States District Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 24, 2026
https://www.vaed.uscourts.gov/evidence-presentation-systemFederal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts