Prince William gets two new judges

By Amanda Stewart

Published: May 9, 2008

Two new judges, including one who will become the first female Prince William Circuit Court judge, officially took office on Friday.

Judge Mary Grace O'Brien, formerly a Prince William Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge, was sworn in as the county's newest circuit court judge at an investiture ceremony at the county courthouse in Manassas.

O'Brien is the first female judge to be appointed to the Prince William Circuit Court.

She was appointed to replace former Circuit Court judge LeRoy F. Millette Jr., who was appointed to the state Court of Appeals earlier this year.

Manassas lawyer George M. DePolo was sworn in to replace O'Brien on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court at Friday's ceremony.

Both judges were appointed by the Virginia General Assembly during a special session on April 23.

The two were officially sworn in before a standing-room-only crowd in a courtroom at the courthouse.

O'Brien has served on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court since January 2001.

Before becoming a judge, she worked as a prosecutor in Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert's office.

There she gained national attention when she prosecuted Lorena Bobbitt, who was charged with malicious wound-ing for severing her husband's penis in 1994. Bobbitt was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Before coming to Prince William County, O'Brien served as a clerk for Virginia Supreme Court Judge Ros-coe B. Stephenson, who administered her oath of office Friday.

"He was a great example for what a judge should be," O'Brien said of Stephenson.

She said another person who taught her the values she needs as a judge is her mother, who also attended the cere-mony.

"She taught us it's important to be fair," said O'Brien.

Circuit Court Judge Lon E. Farris administered the oath of office to DePolo.

DePolo, a private practice attorney who has served as a substitute Circuit Court judge, said he was honored and humbled to be chosen for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

"It's a high honor to be given," he said.

William Jarvis, an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney and president of the Prince William Bar Association, said the two new judges will serve the county well.

"This is indeed a joyous occasion for the county," he said.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.