Donald W. Lemons

Donald Wayne Lemons (born February 22, 1949) is a former associate justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. He served as chief justice from 2015 to 2021. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia. Biography Lemons was assistant dean and assistant professor of law of the University of Virginia School of Law from 1976 to 1978. He then entered the private practice. Lemons first served as a judge of the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, having been appointed to that position by Governor George Allen in 1995 while the legislature was out of session. He was subsequently confirmed for a full term by the General Assembly. In 1998, Lemons was elected by the General Assembly to an eight-year term on the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Lemons succeeded Judge Joseph E. Baker, one of the original members of the Court of Appeals. Upon the retirement of justice A. Christian Compton in 2000, Lemons was elected by the General Assembly to fill the vacancy on the high court. Robert J. Humphreys was elected to fill the vacancy on the Court of Appeals created by Lemons' elevation to the Supreme Court.