Oil on linen canvas, 25 x 32 in., by Vicars Lynn McKinney, 2013.

Born 1957 in Brunswick County, Virginia.

Elected by the General Assembly on July 29, 2011 to a 12-year term beginning August 1, 2011, filling the vacancy created by the death of Leroy Rountree Hassell. Sworn in on August 2, 2011. Expiration of current term: July 31, 2035.

Elected chief justice in 2025 to a four-year term beginning January 1, 2026, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of S. Bernard Goodwyn.

Education:

University of Virginia, B.A., 1979.
University of Virginia, J.D., 1982.

Other Judicial Service:

Judge, General District Court, Chesterfield County, Virginia, 1993-2000.
Judge, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, 2000-2008 (Chief Judge, 2004-2006).
Judge, Court of Appeals of Virginia, 2008-2011.

Professional career:

Private practice of law in Richmond, Virginia, 1982-1986.
Senior assistant attorney general, 1986-1989.
Corporate counsel, Dominion Virginia Power, 1989-1992.
Director of employee services, Dominion Virginia Power, 1992-1993.

Sources:

Elected to a 12-year term beginning August 1, 2011, Journals of the Senate of Virginia 2011 Special Session I, 118; sworn in on August 2, 2011, 282 Va., xxvii; biography, education, and career, American Bench: Judges of the Nation (Forster-Long, Inc., 2013), 2762; digital image of portrait by Michael Hart, 2014.