The Honorable Bonnie C. Davis, 12th District Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judge, has announced her retirement, effective September 30, 2016. In announcing her retirement, Judge Davis reflected on her twenty-three years as a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judge and stated, “It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve the families and children of Chesterfield and Colonial Heights. I will miss the camaraderie of the professional relationships that I have forged with court staff, colleagues, and the bar and look forward to observing the Court’s continued successes in the future.”
Judge Davis is a 1971 graduate of Longwood College and a graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law, receiving her Juris Doctor degree in 1980. Prior to attending law school, Judge Davis taught at Salem Church Middle School in Chesterfield County for six years. After law school, Judge Davis was in private practice with William R. Keown and Associates for three years and then served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Chesterfield County. Judge Davis prosecuted cases in the Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and Chesterfield Circuit Court, from 1983-1993, where she was a zealous advocate for children and adult victims of domestic abuse.
With her appointment to the Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in 1993, Judge Davis became the first woman appointed as a Judge in Chesterfield County. Having grown up in Ettrick and living many years in both Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights, Judge Davis has served on many task forces, multidisciplinary teams, and committees at the local, state, and federal levels. She is presently a member of the Board of Governors, General Practice Section, of the Virginia State Bar, and the Board of Directors for the Association of District Court Judges of Virginia. As one of her most beloved professional achievements, Judge Davis oversaw the construction of the present-day Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courthouse, considered a model for other courthouses.
The 12th District Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court congratulates Judge Davis upon the announcement of her retirement, considers it an honor to have worked with her over the years, and thanks her for her dedication to Chesterfield County.
