Jurist in Residence

(434) 592-5300

Education

  • J.D., Marshall-Wythe School of Law – College of William and Mary
  • B.A., College of William and Mary

Areas of Interest/Teaching

Legal Skills, Trial Advocacy

Experience

  • Adjunct Professor of Law at Marshall-Wythe School of Law – College of William and Mary
  • Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law
  • Judge, Circuit Court for the 24th Judicial Circuit
  • Judge, General District Court for the 24th Judicial Circuit
  • Partner, Edmunds & Williams, P.C. (now Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black), Lynchburg, Virginia
  • Mediator, The McCammon Group

Publications

  • Trying Cases in General District Court, Virginia Trial Lawyers Journal (2013)
  • Virginia Benchbooks (Civil & Criminal) for Virginia Judges and Lawyers, published by LexisNexis
    • Appointed by the Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court to serve on the Benchbook Committee, which updates and edits these publications annually (2015-2022)

Biography

After graduating from William and Mary Law School, Judge Burnette practiced law with the firm of Edmunds & Williams (now Woods Rogers PLC) in Lynchburg, Virginia, for twenty-three years. He specialized in civil litigation, including legal malpractice defense, general tort liability, and appellate practice. During this time, he served as President of the Virginia State Bar, President of the Lynchburg Bar Association, and a member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association. He was listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” and “Who’s Who in American Law.”

In 2001, he became a General District Court judge for the 24th Judicial Circuit, and in 2015, a Circuit judge for the 24th Judicial Circuit. While on the bench, Judge Burnette served on the Benchbook Committee, which updates and edits the Virginia Benchbooks (Civil & Criminal) for judges and lawyers, published by LexisNexis. He also served as a mentor judge and a member of the Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee.

Judge Burnette has received a number of awards and honors including:

  • Award in Excellence in Civil Litigation presented by the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
  • Jurist of the Year Award presented by the Young Lawyers Conference of the Virginia State Bar
  • Citizen-Lawyer Award presented by the William and Mary Law School Association
  • Public Service and Pro-Bono Awards presented by the Lynchburg Bar Association
  • Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and Virginia Law Foundation

Judge Burnette is also active in his church and community. He is a trustee, Past Congregational Council Chair, and church moderator at Peakland Baptist Church. He is a board member of the Boonsboro Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, Past President of the Interfaith Outreach Association, Past President of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, and Past Board Member of Amazement Square Children’s Museum, United Way, and Centra Health.