Bill Text: VA SJR199 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Honorable Frank W. Somerville.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-07 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ199ER) [SJR199 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SJR199-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, the Honorable Frank W. Somerville has served with distinction the residents of the 16th Judicial District of Virginia and the Commonwealth for three decades as a juvenile and domestic relations district court judge; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville was born and raised in Orange County and graduated from Woodberry Forest School; he subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in education from Davidson College in North Carolina, then taught history and government at a private day school for two years before attending law school at the University of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville began his legal career as an associate attorney with the Orange County law firm of Somerville, Carter, Wilkinson & Wheeler, until he received his appointment to the bench in 1994; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville has served on numerous committees, including the Court Improvement Program Advisory Committee, the Virginia State Executive Counsel for Children's Services, and the Schools and Courts Committee; he is a current member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and he previously served as president of the Virginia Council of Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judges; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville is the lead judge for the Culpeper Best Practices Team and has been so since the Culpeper Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court was designated as a Best Practice Court in 2002; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville was the recipient of the 2020 Lelia Baum Hopper Service Award given by the Virginia Council of Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts for his years of dedication; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville was appointed to serve on Governor Glenn Youngkin's Safe and Sound Task Force in 2022 with the aim to find placement for displaced children in Virginia's foster care system; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville was one of five core team members for the Three Branch Institute, which addressed implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act in Virginia and adopted new court processes for the approval and monitoring of the placement of children in foster care; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville has organized and led several continuing legal education training seminars for area bar members and various community stakeholders to address the ever-emerging and diverse issues that the judicial system encounters; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville has regularly taught at national judicial conventions across the United States; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville has served the judiciary as an instructor for the pre-bench training that all newly appointed juvenile judges are required to attend; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville continues to serve his colleagues by providing mentorship and oversight to their continued training and maturation as judges; and
WHEREAS, Judge Somerville is revered among his contemporaries who regularly seek him out for his wisdom and guidance and who have marveled at his work ethic and untiring dedication to the work of the judiciary; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Honorable Frank W. Somerville on the occasion of his retirement as a juvenile and domestic relations district court judge of the 16th Judicial 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 Frank W. Somerville as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his achievements and service to the Commonwealth.
