Gaylord L. Finch, Jr.

The Honorable Gaylord Leroy Finch, Jr. (b. January 21, 1944) was a judge of the Fairfax Circuit Court from 2001 to 2009 and a judge of the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court from 1982 to 2001, including six years as chief judge of that court.

Born in Manhattan, Kansas, Finch later lived in Ohio, where he graduated from Bowling Green University in 1965 and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969.

Following his graduation from law school, Finch served in the Army for five years.

Finch became a judge on the J&DR Court in 1982 following Johanna Fitzpatrick's moving to the bench of the Circuit Court.[1]

When Judge F. Bruce Bach retired in 2001, Finch was elevated to the bench of the Circuit Court.[2]

Finch's ruling of July 28, 2008 on a contentious Fairfax County School Board boundary change in the western part of the county proved to be the inciting incident that would ultimately lead to his resignation from the bench the following year.

The plan, approved in a 10-2 vote on February 28, moved hundreds of children who had previously been in the Madison, Oakton and Westfield High School pyramids to that of South Lakes High School.[3][4]

References

  1. ↑ Bohlen, Celestine. "Black Judge Likely Choice for Va. Circuit Court Seat." The Washington Post (1974-Current file), Mar 12 1982, p. 1. ProQuest. Web. 26 Sep. 2018.
  2. ↑ Jackman, Tom. "Judges Shift Places as Bach Nears Retirement; McWeeny is Chosen to Head Circuit Court." The Washington Post, Jun 21 2001, p. FE.3. ProQuest. Web. 27 Sep. 2018.
  3. ↑ Chandler, Michael Alison. "Vote on School Zones in Fairfax Pits Neighbor Against Neighbor." The Washington Post, Feb 28 2008, p. B.6. ProQuest. Web. 28 Sep. 2018 .
  4. ↑ Chandler, Michael Alison. "Fairfax School Board Approves Boundary Redesign; Member's Push for Moratorium Fails; Plan is to Start this Fall." The Washington Post, Feb 29 2008, ProQuest. Web. 28 Sep. 2018.