When the retirement of Judge Thomas Monroe in the early 1990s created an opening in the Circuit Court serving Arlington and Falls Church, William Newman Jr. initially wasn’t necessarily interested in seeking the post.
After all, he both had a healthy private practice and was serving as an elected member of the Arlington County Board.
“I never really thought about being a judge. I was more political at the time,” Newman recalled.
But he was encouraged to forward his name to the Arlington County Bar Association, which then as now makes recommendations to the county’s General Assembly delegation on judicial nominees. The assumption was that he would be passed over but would gain experience on how the process worked.
“Lo and behold, I got it on the first time,” Newman said.
More than three decades later, Newman is wrapping up service on the Circuit Court, much of it as chief judge. His last day will be June 30.
The judge sat down with the GazetteLeader for a wide-ranging interview earlier in the month. At the time, his office high atop the Arlington County Justice Center already was beginning to show signs that a move was in evidence.
As it turned out, having been an elected official proved good training for being on the bench, because in each case the goal is to “give people the opportunity to be heard – let them have their say,” Newman said.
(Although sometimes, particularly as an elected official, you are “forced to listen to citizens with a smile on your face” even if they are berating you, he noted with a wry smile.)
Newman was not the first local politician to become a jurist, and those who come from elected office to the bench often share one trait: It proves a challenge to “go from being out in the public eye to all of a sudden not being able to say anything” in the public arena, Newman said.
A native Arlingtonian – Wakefield High School Class of 1968 – Newman would occasionally feel the sting of racial attitudes as he grew up and began his legal career. But his abilities won out, and he is likely to be included among a pantheon of legendary Arlington jurists the likes of Walter McCarthy (who served on the bench from 1930-72) and William Winston (1966-98), Paul Brown (1966-85) and Charles Russell (1967-82, followed by service on the Virginia Supreme Court).
“Judge Newman is an excellent jurist – the judiciary and the citizens of the commonwealth are indebted to him,” Virginia Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn told the GazetteLeader. “On behalf of the Supreme Court of Virginia, I thank Judge Newman for his outstanding and dedicated service, and wish him the best regarding his retirement.”
But even future legendary figures have early days on the job, and must feel their way as they go along.
Before coming on the bench, “my areas of practice were somewhat limited,” Newman acknowledged, which could be a drawback given the wide array of cases that come to court.
“Everybody thinks you [the judge] know everything about everything, but you don’t,” he said. “The first lesson is, you must make the lawyers do the work for you. Make them give you what you’re going to need to resolve to resolve the case – don’t be afraid to tell them.”
Decades ago, Virginia eliminated the election of judges by the public, substituting election by the General Assembly. Circuit Court judges serve for eight-year terms, and are eligible for re-election until they hit a mandatory retirement at age 73.
Having the General Assembly elect judges is a “much better option” than direct election of the judiciary, Judge Newman believes. He credited then-Del. James Almand – who later himself served on the Circuit Court – and then-Sen. Edward Holland for helping him on the journey toward legislative election in 1993. “I felt very comfortable,” Newman said, while acknowledging that the process still could be daunting.
Though there was no formal mentorship program for new Virginia judges as there is now, one who took the newly enrobed Judge Newman under his wing was Circuit Court Judge Paul Sheridan, who served on the court from 1985-2003 and was its chief judge from 1998-2003.
It was a continuation of a relationship the two men had forged earlier. “He was that way even before I went on the bench,” Newman said of his willingness to listen and to share experiences.
Perhaps the ultimate test in Judge Newman’s tenure came in 1996, when he sentenced 21-year-old Christopher Beck to death after Beck had pleaded guilty to murdering three roommates. Beck also was convicted of multiple other offenses, including rape and robbery, in connection with the incident.
Although long personally against capital punishment, Newman as a judicial nominee had told General Assembly members he would impose a sentence of death if circumstances warranted.
Doing so, however, was “to me was probably the hardest thing I ever had to do,” and even involved a visit with his pastor to review the moral implications involved.
In the end, it was Beck’s own behavior during his time incarerated, where he proved a danger to other inmates and staff, that helped lead to the decision.
Even while incarcerated, “he could hurt somebody – he could do it to somebody else,” Newman said.
(Beck was executed by lethal injection in October 2001. Among his last words were an apology for his actions.)
The decision by the General Assembly several years ago, when both houses were in Democratic hands, to abolish capital punishment may have received a mixed verdict from the public. But Newman told the GazetteLeader he believes there is “no question” judges are pleased that the General Assembly eliminated the death penalty, as it takes questions of life and death out of their hands.
As for what he will do next? Judge Neman is joining the McCammon Group, a regional firm focused on dispute-resolution services. Among those already there are Sheridan and another former colleague, Circuit Court Judge Joanne Alper.
Retired judges also can – and many do – continue to hear cases on an as-needed capacity across the commonwealth.
There also likely will be more time for family life with his entrepreneur/philanthropist spouse Sheila Johnson, and perhaps a return to more acting than he has had time for; Newman is a familiar face in the local theater scene.
David Bell, who served for 30 years as clerk of the Circuit Court and knows Newman well, considers him “the ultimate renaissance man,” from playing college football to his talents in performing arts, from his gourmet-cooking skills to philanthropic efforts.
“The job of a Circuit Court judge is certainly not easy, and can be soul-robbing,” Bell said. “It is ironic to have a person like Bill, who eschews conflict and passing judgment on others, to serve in this capacity for more than 30 years. Arlington owes him a debt for his many contributions, and I am proud to call him my friend.”
Succeeding Newman on the bench will be General District Court Judge Daniel Lopez, who earlier this year was elected by the General Assembly to an eight-year term. He will join a bench that includes judges Daniel S. Fiore II, Louise DiMatteo and Judith Wheat.
As for the final verdict on his tenure as a judge? “I can only hope that, after all these years, I have lived up to what the expectations were. I’m a public servant first. I try to give,” Newman said.
As he looks back on 30 years? “It’s been a great ride. I’ve enjoyed it so much, and have enjoyed serving the community I grew up in,” he said.
