Donald W. Lemons, March 16, 2000-February 1, 2022 (Chief Justice, January 1, 2015-December 31, 2021)

Portrait of Donald Wayne Lemons.

Oil on canvas, 25 x 30 in., by Claiborne Gregory, 2001.

Born 1949 in Washington, D.C.

First elected by the General Assembly on March 8, 2000 to a 12-year term beginning March 16, 2000, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of A. Christian Compton. Service terminated by retirement.

Elected chief justice on August 18, 2014 to a four-year term beginning January 1, 2015, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Cynthia D. Kinser. He stepped down as chief justice effective December 31, 2021.

Education:

University of Virginia, B.A., 1970.
University of Virginia, J.D., 1976.

Other judicial service:

Commissioner in chancery, Henrico County, Virginia, 1988-1995.
Substitute judge, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Henrico County, Virginia, 1994-1995.
Judge, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, 1995-1998.
Judge, Court of Appeals of Virginia, 1998-2000.
Senior Justice, Supreme Court of Virginia, 2022-2024.

Professional career:

Probation officer, Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, 1971-1973.
Assistant dean and assistant professor of law, University of Virginia School of Law, 1976-1978.
Private practice of law in Richmond, Virginia, 1978-1995.
A.L. Philpott Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Richmond School of Law, 1998-2000.
Distinguished Professor of Judicial Studies, Washington and Lee University School of Law, 2007-.
President, American Inns of Court, 2010-2014.
Honorary Bencher, Middle Temple, Inns of Court, London.
Recipient, 2021 Harry L. Carrico Outstanding Career Service Award.

Sources:

First elected, Journal of the Senate, 2000 Regular Session, 1747; sworn in on March 16, 2000, 259 Va., v; Jeff E. Schapiro, “Lemons Voted to Virginia High Court,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 9, 2000, A-6; birth, education, and career, biographical file, Virginia State Law Library; born in Washington, D.C., listing for Durrette, Irvin, Lemons, & Bradshaw, P.C., in Martindale-Hubble Law Directory, (Summit, NJ: Martindale-Hubble, Inc.), 1993.
“The Hon. Donald W. Lemons Receives 2022 Carrico Professionalism Award,” VSB News, April 26, 2022.
Supreme Court of Virginia. (2022 May 18). The Honorable Donald W. Lemons is recipient of 2021 Harry L. Carrico Outstanding Career Services Award [press release]. This is awarded by the Judicial Council of Virginia.