U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski will retire effective Sept. 30. Currently on senior status, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2011 to serve as a federal judge for the Western District of Virginia. Prior to that, he was a U.S. magistrate judge for seven years and worked as an attorney for the Roanoke law firm of Woods Rogers.
U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski will retire effective Sept. 30. He is photographed in his office on Sept. 18.Â
HEATHER ROUSSEAU, The Roanoke Times
U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski, who will retire effective Sept. 30, second from left, is pictured with his law clerk team, from left, Linda Kring, Natalie Beers and Jennifer Willis, in his office on Sept. 18.
HEATHER ROUSSEAU, The Roanoke Times
The Ted Dalton Ceremonial Courtroom inside the Richard H. Poff Federal Building in downtown Roanoke serves U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski who will retire effective Sept. 30.
HEATHER ROUSSEAU, The Roanoke Times
U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski will retire effective Sept. 30, he is photographed in his office on Sept. 18. Currently on senior status, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2011 to serve as a federal judge for the Western District of Virginia. Prior to that, he was a U.S. magistrate judge for seven years and worked as an attorney for the Roanoke law firm of Woods Rogers.
U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski, second from left, talks with his law clerk team, from left, Linda Kring, Jennifer Willis and Natalie Beers, in his office on Sept. 18.
HEATHER ROUSSEAU, The Roanoke Times
The Richard H. Poff Federal Building is pictured in downtown Roanoke on Sept. 18.
The Ted Dalton Ceremonial Courtroom inside the Richard H. Poff Federal Building in downtown Roanoke serves U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski who will retire effective Sept. 30.
Official portraits of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance hang on the first floor of the Richard H. Poff Federal Building in Roanoke, on Sept. 18, 2026.
After 20 years of 'fighting over money' as a lawyer, Michael Urbanski decided to seek public service, and now 23 years later he's retiring as a federal judge.
