Gerald Bruce Lee facts for kids

Gerald Bruce Lee, born on February 9, 1952, is a former American judge. He served as a federal judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. This court handles important legal cases for the eastern part of Virginia.

Becoming a Judge: Gerald Bruce Lee's Journey

Early Education and Legal Training

Gerald Bruce Lee went to American University for his college studies. He earned his first degree there in 1973. Later, in 1976, he got his law degree from American University's Washington College of Law. This education prepared him for a long career in law.

Working as a Lawyer

Before becoming a judge, Mr. Lee worked as a lawyer in Alexandria, Virginia. He helped people and businesses with their legal problems. He handled both civil cases, which are about disagreements between people, and criminal cases, which involve breaking the law. He was a partner at a law firm called Cohen, Dunn & Sinclair.

As a lawyer, Mr. Lee worked on some interesting cases. In 1978, he helped a client who was accused of murder. He used a special defense, and his client was found not guilty. He also helped a veteran get important medical care for a condition called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He even defended a high school principal who faced trouble because of his interracial marriage.

Mr. Lee was very active in the Virginia State Bar, which is like a professional group for lawyers. He was part of many committees and even led some of them. In 1990, the Governor of Virginia asked him to join the board for the airports in the Washington, D.C. area.

Serving as a State Judge

In 1992, Gerald Bruce Lee became a state judge in Fairfax, Virginia. This was a very busy court, and he heard many different types of cases. These included cases about business deals, injuries, and criminal matters. He was known for handling complex cases and for trying to use new technology in the courtroom.

As a state judge, he also helped train other judges. He was in charge of programs that helped 150 state trial judges learn new things. He also helped update a special book that judges use in court.

Becoming a Federal Judge

In 1998, two senators from Virginia suggested Mr. Lee for a position as a federal judge. President Bill Clinton nominated him for the job. The United States Senate voted and approved him on September 28, 1998. He officially became a federal judge on October 1, 1998. He retired from this important role on September 30, 2017.

Important Cases as a Federal Judge

During his time as a federal judge, Gerald Bruce Lee oversaw several significant cases:

• He presided over the case of Brian Patrick Regan, a former Air Force master sergeant.
• He heard the case of Jay Lentz, who was accused of kidnapping and murder.
• He also handled the case of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, who was found guilty of supporting a terrorist group.

See also

• List of African-American federal judges
• List of African-American jurists