Bill Text: VA SJR17 | 2018 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Commending the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-01-19 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ17ER) [SJR17 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2018-SJR17-Prefiled.html
WHEREAS, the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee, a respected judge who presided over numerous high-profile cases and worked to increase diversity in the legal profession, retired from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on September 30, 2017; and
WHEREAS, a native of Washington, D.C., Gerald Bruce Lee learned the value of hard work and responsibility at a young age; he found a job as a street sweeper through the nonprofit organization Youth Pride, Inc., and began attending college courses while he was still in high school as part of the Pride American University Project; and
WHEREAS, Gerald Bruce Lee earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from American University and later served as an adjunct professor at the university; he began his legal career as a trial lawyer, representing individuals and businesses in civil and criminal cases at both the state and federal level; and
WHEREAS, Gerald Bruce Lee offered his expertise to several law firms and was a partner at Cohen, Dunn & Sinclair, P.C.; he made countless contributions to the legal profession, holding leadership roles in the Virginia State Bar, American Bar Association, George Mason American Inn of Court, the Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association, and Federal Judges Association; and
WHEREAS, in 1992, Gerald Bruce Lee was appointed as a judge of the Fairfax Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit of Virginia; he earned admiration for his management of complex trials and commitment to using innovative technology in the courthouse, both during and outside of trial proceedings; and
WHEREAS, on September 28, 1998, Gerald Bruce Lee was confirmed as a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, where he presided with great fairness and wisdom for 19 years; and
WHEREAS, in 1990, Gerald Bruce Lee was appointed by the Governor to serve as a Virginia Director on the Board of the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority and helped guide modernization and expansion of Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; and
WHEREAS, throughout his career, Gerald Bruce Lee worked to mentor and inspire young people through the Kamp Kappa Street Law Program of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the Share the Wealth Judicial Clerkship Program and Judicial Resources and JTB Summer Diversity Judicial Internship Programs of Just the Beginning, both of which aim to train and empower young people and to encourage minorities to pursue a career in the legal profession; and
WHEREAS, after his well-earned retirement as a judge, Gerald Bruce Lee plans to spend more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren and seek new opportunities to serve the community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee, who has served the Commonwealth with integrity and distinction, on the occasion of his retirement as a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his dedicated service to Fairfax County, the Commonwealth, and the United States.
