Arlington Circuit Court Chief Judge Paul Sheridan has announced his retirement effective July 1. Judge Sheridan was first appointed to the bench in 1985 and in 1998 became Chief Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit comprised of Arlington County and the City of Falls Church. Judge Sheridan is only the third person to serve as the Chief Judge of the Arlington Circuit Court.
Prior to becoming a Judge, Sheridan was widely regarded as one of the top civil litigators in the metropolitan area and was named in “Best Lawyers in America” and inducted as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He represented many municipalities in courts throughout the region.
As a Judge, he received numerous awards and recognitions for his leadership and professionalism including the Harry Carrico Professionalism Award from the Criminal Law section of the Virginia State Bar, the Distinguished Service Award from the Arlington Bar Association and the Martin L. King Community Service Award. He has taught at George Mason University Law School for over 15 years and was asked by the graduating class of 2000 to deliver the commencement address. He also served as chairman of the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission, the internal disciplinary arm of the Virginia court system from 1996 to 1998.
Judge Sheridan was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Alexandria, Va. He now resides with his wife, Jeanette, in Arlington. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958 from Columbia University in New York City. Following undergraduate studies, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He remained on active duty from June 1958 through July 1960, later achieving the rank of Captain in the Reserves. He graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1963. Sheridan was in private practice from 1964-1985; focusing was on civil jury litigation.
In February, he was awarded the Justice Harry L. Carrico professionalism award by the Criminal Law Section of the Virginia State Bar. Currently, Judge Sheridan serves on the Virginia State Bar Committee on Bench Bar Relations and is Chairman of the Model Jury Instructions Committee.
