Fairfax County Attorney

The Fairfax County Attorney supervises the Office of the County Attorney, which provides legal guidance to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, county agencies and authorities, and represents Fairfax County in court cases.

The current Fairfax County Attorney is Elizabeth D. Teare.

The responsibilities of the County Attorney were formerly part of the Commonwealth's Attorney's responsibilities until 1967, following the county's adoption of the urban county executive form of government. On February 1 of that year, Dexter S. Odin became the first county attorney.[1]

Odin announced his resignation, effective January 1, 1969, on October 2, 1968.[2] Odin was succeeded by Donald C. Stevens.[3]

Stevens left the county in 1972 to join the law firm of Hazel, Beckhorn and Hanes.[4] The BoS appointed Martin L. Keith to succeed Stevens on March 13, 1972, with his appointment effective April 1.[5]

Frederic Lee Ruck was named county attorney in March, 1973, taking office on April 16.[6][7]

In 1980, David T. Stitt was appointed county attorney.[8]

On September 6, 1991, Stitt announced his resignation and intention to enter private practice with the firm of Venable, Baetjer & Howard.[9]

Following Stitt's November 8 departure, Robert Lyndon Howell served as the acting county attorney, but the office was vacant until David P. Bobzien was hired on December 15, 1992.[10][11]

Bobzien would go on to serve as Fairfax County Attorney for almost as long as the five men who preceded him, retiring in 2016.

On April 26, 2016, the Board of Supervisors appointed Elizabeth D. Teare as the new county attorney, effective July 1.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "County Attorney Sworn, then Beats Legal Retreat." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. Feb 02 1967. ProQuest. Web. 3 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Yenckel, James T. "Fairfax's Lawyer Quits $23,000 Job." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. Oct 03 1968.ProQuest. Web. 25 Aug. 2016.
  3. ↑ "Donald C. Stevens, 41, Former Attorney for Fairfax County." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 19 Apr. 1977. Web. 25 Aug. 2016.
  4. ↑ "Va. Surveyors Hear Stevens. " The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. May 20 1972. ProQuest. Web. 25 Aug. 2016 .
  5. ↑ Scannell, Nancy. "County Resumes Zoning Hearings. " The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973): 1. Mar 14 1972. ProQuest. Web. 25 Aug. 2016.
  6. ↑ "New County Attorney" The Evening Star and Daily News:B-4 13 March 1973. Accessed 24 Aug. 2017.
  7. ↑ Dougherty, Kerry. "Fairfax County Attorney to Join Law Firm." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 1. Oct 11 1979. ProQuest.Web. 25 Aug. 2016 .
  8. ↑ Jackman, Tom. "David Stitt, 65; Fairfax County Circuit Judge. " The Washington PostMay 13 2008. ProQuest. Web. 25 Aug. 2016.
  9. ↑ Anderson, John Ward. "Fairfax County Attorney to Quit, Leaving 2nd Key Post Open." The Washington Post (pre-1997 Fulltext): b08. Sep 07 1991. ProQuest. Web. 25 Aug. 2016 .
  10. ↑ "County Attorney Search Begins." The Washington Post (pre-1997 Fulltext): v01. Aug 06 1992.ProQuest. Web. 25 Aug. 2016 .
  11. ↑ Baker, Peter. "Planning Official Named County Attorney in Fairfax." The Washington Post (pre-1997 Fulltext): b09. Dec 16 1992. ProQuest. Web. 25 Aug. 2016.
  12. ↑ "Elizabeth D. Teare Appointed Next County Attorney." Fairfax County NewsCenter. Fairfax County, 26 Apr. 2016. Web. 17 Dec. 2017. Via Internet Archive.