The Hon. David Bernhard is a judge for the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia in Fairfax County. He was elected to the bench by the Virginia General Assembly in February 2017.
Prior to his election, he was a partner at Bernhard & Gardner since 1991, where his practice focused on criminal and civil litigation, uncontested divorce, and appellate cases. During that time, Bernhard and his partner, Cheryl E. Gardner, co-founded the criminal law resource, VADefense Listserv, in 2005.
He received a B.A. in economics and political science from Brandeis University in 1983. Bernhard then completed a J.D. at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 1985. He was admitted to practice in Maryland (1989), Virginia (1988), the District of Columbia (1987), and Missouri (1986).
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he was born in El Salvador and later immigrated to the United States. Bernhard attended Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, Massachusetts.
His judicial philosophy includes supporting the development of evidence-based sentencing and pre-trial practices, and he is against imposing cash bonds for defendants awaiting trial.
| Current Appointment 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia | 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia |
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Education
J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law - 1985 B.A., Brandeis University - 1983 |
J.D., Washington University in St. Louis School of Law - 1985 B.A., Brandeis University - 1983 |
| Current Court: | VA - 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia |
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| Clerk phone: | +1 (703) 691-7320 |
| Fax: | +1 (703) 273-6564 |
| Role | Employer | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Partner | Bernhard & Gardner | Fairfax County, Virginia |
| Judge | 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia | Fairfax County, Virginia |
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