GERALD BRUCE LEE

United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia

Judge Gerald Bruce Lee lives by his motto, “To whom much is given, of him much is
required.” Judge 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. He was a trial judge in the 19 Judicial Circuit, Fairfax, Virginia for the six and one half years prior to his nomination by President Clinton. 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.

Judge Lee is well known throughout the Virginia legal community for his handling of complex civil cases, his efforts to improve the court’s use of technology, and his commitment to community service.

Judge Lee received his undergraduate degree in communications from The American University in 1973. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from The Washington College of Law at The American University in 1976. He was an adjunct faculty member at the University for four years during law school and private practice.

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. While he was in practice, in 1990, 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.

He is an active member of the profession and he 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, and he is a past president of the George Mason American Inn of Court.

He began his judicial career when he was elected to the Fairfax Circuit Court in May, 1992. As a trial judge, Judge Lee is known for his expertise in the management of complex civil trials and for his use of emerging technology in the courtroom. He presided over several complex product liability and commercial cases. He 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.

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 over fifty continuing legal education outlines and legal publications on trial advocacy. He has lectured and conducted mock trials at numerous Virginia and Washington, D.C. law schools.