Photographic portrait, 2015

Born 1958 in New York City, New York.

Appointed by Governor Robert McDonnell on October 1, 2013, effective November 1, 2013, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Larry Elder. Elected by the General Assembly on January 14, 2014 to an eight-year term beginning February 2, 2014.

Elected by the court on November 27, 2018 to a four-year term as chief judge beginning January 1, 2019.

Education:
Gettysburg College, B.A., 1980
University of Richmond, J.D., 1983

Professional career:
Assistant attorney general of Virginia, Criminal Litigation Section, 1983-2002.
Senior assistant attorney general of Virginia and chief, Special Prosecutions Section, 2002-2005.
Deputy attorney general of Virginia, Public Safety and Enforcement Division, 2005-2010.
Secretary of public safety, 2010-2013.
Adjunct professor of law, University of Richmond, 1995-present.
Adjunct professor, Virginia Union University, 1998.
Adjunct professor, University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies, 2000-present.

Sources:
Appointed effective November 1, 2013, 62 Va.App., V; elected, HR74 summary, retrieved on December 8, 2014; professional career, Opinions of the Attorney General and report to the Governor of Virginia, 1983-2010 (reports for the years 2008-2010 are in electronic format and were retrieved from the state government records collection, Library of Virginia, on March 2, 2015), and biographical file, Virginia State Law Library; see also Peter Vieth, “Decker Appointed to Court of Appeals,” Virginia Lawyers Weekly, October 1, 2013, retrieved from valawyersweekly.com on December 2, 2014.