Judge Gerald Bruce Lee

Honorary CLEO Alumnus

Judge Gerald Bruce Lee was confirmed as a United States District Judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division on October 8, 1998. He was recommended for appointment to the court with bipartisan support in May 1998. Prior to his nomination by President Bill Clinton, Judge Lee was a trial judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit, Fairfax, VA for six and one half years. As Judge Lee sought the appointment, he was evaluated by twelve state-wide bar associations along with eight other candidates. He was the only candidate and judge to receive the highest rating of each of the twelve bar associations and received bi-partisan support from both Virginia senators.

In 1973, Judge Lee received his undergraduate degree in communications from The American University, Washington, D.C. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from The Washington College of Law at The American University in 1976. For four years, during law school and while in private practice he was an adjunct professor at the law school.

Prior to ascending to the bench, Judge Lee was a trial lawyer for fifteen years, representing individuals and businesses in civil and criminal cases. He was a partner at Cohen, Dunn & Sinclair, P.C., an Alexandria Virginia, law firm. In 1990, while he was in practice, then Virginia Governor Wilder appointed him to serve on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the managers of Washington Dulles and Washington National Airports.

Judge Lee began his judicial career when he was elected to the Fairfax Circuit Court in May 1992. As a trial judge, he was known for his expertise in the management of complex civil trials and for his use of emerging technology in the courtroom. Judge Lee led the Fairfax Circuit Court to become one of the first courts in Virginia to have a presence on the Internet, and he encouraged the innovative use of computer technology and demonstrative evidence in trial. An active member of the profession, Judge Lee has served in several leadership roles. He was an elected member of the Virginia State Bar Council, Chairman of the General Practice of Law Section of the Virginia State Bar, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the American Bar Association General Practice Section. He is also a past president of the George Mason American Inn of Court, and is currently the Treasurer of the Federal Judges Association.

Judge Lee is an accomplished lecturer to judges and lawyers. He was Chairman of the Judicial Conference of Virginia Judicial Education Committee, which is responsible for meeting the continuing education needs of Virginia’s 140 trial judges. He served as an editor of the Virginia Circuit Court Judge’s Benchbook. As a member of the faculty of the National Judicial College, he helped develop the curriculum for the “Advanced General Jurisdiction Course” designed for experienced trial judges. He helped develop and presented a course for the Federal Judicial Center on death penalty case trials. Judge Lee has authored and co-authored more than fifty continuing legal education outlines and legal publications on trial advocacy. He also has lectured and conducted mock trials at numerous Virginia and Washington, D.C. law schools.