Washington, DC —- Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) today recommended John A. Gibney of Richmond for the judicial vacancy that exists in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Senators made their recommendation in a letter Wednesday to President Barack Obama. Mr. Gibney, a partner in the Richmond law firm Thompson-McMullan since 2003, has practiced law for more than three decades in state and federal courts in the Commonwealth.

Senators Webb and Warner decided upon Mr. Gibney after jointly reviewing several interested lawyers and judges in the Commonwealth. Mr. Gibney received the highest rating from the Virginia Bar Association.

“Mr. Gibney is an outstanding choice for the Eastern District, with more than 30 years of legal experience in the Commonwealth and the respect of esteemed members of the legal community,” said Senator Webb. “He conveys the humility, honesty and temperament that one hopes to find in federal judges.”

“John Gibney presents a long and distinguished record of service in our state and federal courts,” Senator Warner said. “He is well-regarded in legal circles, and Senator Webb and I believe Mr. Gibney will be a strong addition to the federal bench in Virginia.”

Mr. Gibney is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the College of William and Mary, and received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1976. After graduation, he worked as law clerk to former Chief Justice Harry L. Carrico of the Supreme Court of Virginia for two years. Starting in 1978, he worked in private practice and as Assistant Attorney General of Virginia, before joining Shuford, Rubin & Gibney in 1987. He served as a director of Shuford, Rubin & Gibney for sixteen years before moving to Thompson-McMullan in 2003.

Mr. Gibney’s has extensive legal and civic involvement in Virginia. He has been an instructor in the Virginia State Bar’s professionalism course for new attorneys. He is a member of the Chesterfield Health Care Commission, the Board of Directors of Lawyers Helping Lawyers, and of the Governor’s Substance Abuse Services Advisory Council. He has served on the State Board for Contractors, the Chesterfield County Committee on the Future, and the Virginia State Bar Third District Disciplinary Committee. He has been chairman of the Advisory Panel to United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to recommend the appointment of a United States Magistrate. He also has served on the board of number of other charitable organizations. He is past president of the Chesterfield County Bar Association.

In March 2009 the Supreme Court of Virginia appointed Mr. Gibney to serve on the Virginia Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board. This statewide body approves Continuing Legal Education programs in Virginia and makes recommendations concerning requirements for lawyers.