Brenda Spry
{{Short description|American judge}}
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| name = Brenda Spry
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| term_start = February 16, 2021
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| William & Mary Law School (J.D.)
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| occupation = Judge, Circuit Court
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Brenda Spry is a judge for the Third Circuit of Virginia. She previously served as the chief public defender for the Portsmouth, Virginia office of the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission.
Early life and education
Spry attended Old Dominion University, receiving a degree in criminal justice. She then attended William & Mary Law School, receiving a Juris Doctor. When she began law school, she was not sure if she would want to be a lawyer for her full career, but later described the legal profession as "built for her."
Career
In 1990, after finishing law school, Spry began working at the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission's Portsmouth office. She remained there for thirty years, eventually becoming chief public defender of the Portsmouth office in 2008 after John Underwood, who established the office, died at age 55.{{cite news |last1=Bryant |first1=Janie |title=Man who established public defender's office dies at 55 |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2008/03/04/man-who-established-portsmouths-public-defenders-office-dies-at-55/|access-date=5 May 2025|publisher=Virginian-Pilot |date=March 4, 2008}} Prior to Underwood's death, Spry had been the chief deputy public defender in the office. Spry continued to run the office for thirteen years.{{cite news |title=Woman gets 20 years for killing infant |publisher=Daily News-Record |date=May 5, 2016 |location=Harrisonburg, VA |page=B3}}{{cite news |last1=Matray |first1=Margaret |title=Portsmouth's chief public defender appointed to circuit court bench |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2481460920/865F44402D4F4EE7PQ/ |access-date=6 May 2025 |publisher=Daily Press |date=January 28, 2021 |location=Newport News, VA}} In 1998, Spry represented Elton Jackson, a suspected serial killer in the Hampton Roads region.{{cite news |last1=McGlone |first1=Tim |title=3 can testify in Jackson murder trial |publisher=Virginian-Pilot |date=March 22, 1998 |location=Norfolk, VA |page=B1}}{{cite news |last1=Barisic |first1=Sonja |title=Man linked to serial killings stands trial |publisher=The Winchester Star |date=August 17, 1998 |location=Winchester, VA |page=A3}} Prosecutor Brandon Wrobleski filed a complaint against Spry for her handling of the case of Will Patterson Jr., a teenager who was accused of attempting to murder a Portsmouth police officer in November 2017.{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Andy |title=Portsmouth public defender Brenda Spry elected to judgeship, but some officials have concerns |url=https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/portsmouth/house-of-delegates-elects-portsmouth-public-defender-to-judgeship-tuesday/ |access-date=1 October 2022 |publisher=Wavy |date=January 26, 2021}} Spry stated that her office, which represented Patterson, was made aware of his incompetency to stand trial and mental health issues after he was found guilty in April 2018 but prior to his sentencing. As a result, his conviction had to be vacated, and a new trial was ordered. The complaint from Wrobleski was dismissed by both the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission and the Virginia Bar Association. During Spry's time as a public defender, she had court appearances nearly every day.
In June 2020, Spry attended a protest in Portsmouth, and in August 2020 she was one of nineteen people, including two other public defenders, state senator Louise Lucas, and three NAACP representatives, charged with felony vandalism of the local Confederate monument.{{cite news |last1=Alvarez-Wertz |first1=Jane |title=Sen. Lucas, other public officials, charged with felonies for June incident at Portsmouth Confederate monument |url=https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/portsmouth/portsmouth-holding-briefing-about-confederate-monument-incident-several-warrants-secured/ |access-date=1 October 2022 |publisher=Wavy |date=August 17, 2020}} The charges were announced by the police department one day prior to a special legislative session which pushed for policing reform. The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus condemned the charges and multiple Virginia politicians were concerned about the timing of the charges. At the time the charges were announced, commonwealth's attorney's office had not approved the charges and the police department had taken the charges directly to the magistrate. Later, the Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Morales stated there was insufficient evidence to take any of the nineteen defendants to trial and a judge dismissed the charged in November 2020.{{cite news |last1=Reyes |first1=Josh |title=10 arrested after vandalism of Confederate monument receive $15,000 each |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/vp-nw-portsmouth-payment-monument-charges-20211108-psiy7sphfvbrjk4ajrj5uozq2i-story.html |access-date=1 October 2022 |publisher=The Virginian-Pilot |date=November 8, 2021}} The judge, Claire G. Cardwell, found that police went around prosecutors to file charges and attempted to prevent Morales from prosecuting the case by subpoenaing her as a witness. Cardwell thought the charges were concerning, suggesting the police were not motivated by public safety.{{cite news |title=Charges dismissed against Sen. Lucas |url=https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2020/nov/19/charges-dismissed-against-sen-lucas/ |access-date=1 October 2022 |publisher=Richmond Free Press |date=November 19, 2020}} Police Chief Angela Greene was fired shortly before the dismissal of the charges. Spry and ten others charged sued the city, claiming that their rights were violated, and they were improperly defamed, and in October 2021 they received settlement checks from the city for $15,000 each.{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Brett |title=Portsmouth spends $150k to settle with 10 charged with Confederate monument destruction |url=https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/portsmouth/portsmouth-spends-150k-to-settle-with-10-charged-with-confederate-monument-destruction/ |access-date=1 October 2022 |publisher=Wavy |date=November 6, 2021}}
On January 26, 2021, Spry was appointed to the Virginia Circuit Court in Portsmouth by the Virginia General Assembly for an eight-year term beginning on February 16, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Matray |first1=Margaret |title=Portsmouth's top public defender named a judge, months after police charged her in Confederate monument case |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/government/virginia/vp-nw-brenda-spry-judicial-appointment-20210127-pelornlznvbk5jy7wn52i4cjba-story.html |access-date=1 October 2022 |publisher=The Virginian-Pilot |date=January 27, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Top public defender elected judge after Portsmouth protest arrest |url=https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/politics/top-public-defender-elected-judge-after-protest-arrest/291-ca294300-2c4b-4fe6-8708-a2dc672fa562 |access-date=1 October 2022 |publisher=13NewsNow |date=January 28, 2021}} She was elected by the 100-member Virginia House of Delegates with only a 51-vote majority. Republican Todd Gilbert was one of the only Republicans to vote for Spry. In the Virginia Senate, Spry received 33 votes. Most Republicans did not vote at all, and two delegates from each party abstained.
References
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Category:20th-century American lawyers
Category:21st-century American judges
Category:20th-century American women lawyers
Category:21st-century American women judges
Category:Old Dominion University alumni
Category:William & Mary Law School alumni