Smith elected chief judge in Fairfax Circuit

Virginia’s largest circuit court, Fairfax County, has elected a new chief judge. On July 1, Judge Dennis J. Smith will be taking over from current Chief Judge Michael P. McWeeny, who has served as chief judge for the past six years.

An alumnus of Brooklyn College, Smith graduated from American University’s Washington College of Law. He went on the Fairfax County Circuit Court bench in June 1995. Prior to joining the circuit court, Smith served as a substitute judge in the general district and juvenile and domestic relations courts in Fairfax, according to the court’s Web site.

Under the Virginia Code, a circuit chief judge’s duties include assignment of work among the judges. And of course, in the past few years, the Fairfax chief judge likely has been involved in the major expansion and renovation of the Fairfax Judicial Center. According to the contractor, Dick Corporation, the project is scheduled for completion next spring.