Congratulations to LGA Members Newly Appointed
to the State Judiciary

LGA board member, Helivi L. Holland, was elected to serve as a Judge for the General District Court of the Fifth Judicial District on February 23, 2021 by the General Assembly.  Her term starts on April 1, 2021.  The Fifth Judicial District serves the Cities of Suffolk and Franklin and the Counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton.

Helivi served as the City Attorney for Suffolk, beginning in March 2012, the first female and the first African American to hold this position. Prior to that she was the Director of the VA Department of Juvenile Justice from 2010 – 2012. She also served in the legal community as a senior prosecutor, an adjunct professor at her alma mater, College of William & Mary School of Law, a deputy city attorney, a guardian ad litem, and a solo practitioner. She is a past president of the Old Dominion Bar Association and is involved in many community activities.

Heather Ferguson was elected to serve as a Judge for the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court of the 23rd Judicial District on February 23^, 2021 by the General Assembly. Heather served as Assistant City Attorney for Roanoke beginning in August of 2002. The majority of her practice focused on child welfare. Prior to that she was an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Franklin County with a primary practice in J&D Court. After her graduation from the Wake Forest School of Law in 1996, Heather worked for legal aid services in Roanoke and Charlottesville.