Outreach from the bench

When the Honorable Dontaé Bugg, L’06, began his tenure as a circuit court judge of the 19th Judicial
Circuit in Fairfax County, Virginia, his goal was not only to serve his diverse community, but to rejuvenate its administration of justice with what he’s learned through lived experience.

Bugg’s journey to the bench began as a private practitioner focusing on criminal defense and domestic relations matters. While he managed his own firm, several people urged him to consider a judicial career. He began paying more attention to the role of the judge in court, and in 2016, Bugg was appointed a substitute judge for the general district and juvenile and domestic relations district courts. He was confirmed to the circuit court bench in 2019.

In addition to his professional experience, Bugg carried wisdom from his cousin, whose incarceration provided insight into the criminal justice system. And he found a mentor in the Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee, the second Black man to become a circuit court judge in Fairfax County, who shared valuable insight about the importance of his presence on the bench.

“It’s important to have different perspectives and life experiences so you can have a fully informed and engaged discussion about decisions that will impact people who perhaps live life completely differently than some folks may be able to understand,” Bugg said.

On his days off, Bugg visits schools throughout the state to speak with students about his career. He emphasizes the importance of these visits as both a way to stay connected to the people he serves and to inspire the next generation of legal professionals, no matter their background.

“It’s about keeping proper perspective, especially if we sit in judgment of other people,” he said. “Being a judge is a job. We are still people. We still have to be members of the community and society.”