Brenda C. Spry at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Virginia · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Brenda C. Spry
Judge · Portsmouth Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Presiding judge of the Portsmouth Circuit Court in Virginia’s Third Judicial Circuit, appointed in 2021, with a career built on over two decades in public defense
- Listed as a Presiding Judge on the Portsmouth Circuit Court roster
Education
- William & Mary Law School — J.D.
- B.S. in Criminal Justice – Old Dominion University
Additional information
- Her appointment came in January 2021, after a 51–47 vote in the Virginia House of Delegates and a 33–5 vote in the Senate.
- She also handled the 2017 case of Will Patterson Jr., whose conviction was vacated due to mental health issues.
- Began as a deputy public defender in 1989 and rose to Chief Public Defender in 2008, a role she held for 13 years.
- Her work included high-profile cases, such as defending Elton Jackson, a suspected serial killer, in 1998.
- Before becoming a judge, Spry served over 30 years with the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission’s Portsmouth office.
- Mentored by the office’s founder, John H.
- “Jay” Underwood III.
- Judge Spry presides over felony, civil, and domestic relations cases in Portsmouth, Virginia.
- In summary: Judge Brenda C. Spry is a veteran public defender turned presiding judge, recognized for her long-standing advocacy in the criminal justice system and her current role in managing a high-volume local docket in Portsmouth, Virginia.
- She is admitted to practice in Virginia state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Cell Phones And Electronic Devices
Statewide
Virginia courts commonly restrict cell phones and other electronic devices in court buildings; counsel and litigants should check the local court policy before arrival.
Most courts in Virginia do not allow you to bring a cell phone or other electronic device into the building.Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia official judicial roster ↗Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Cell Phone & Electronic Device Policy ↗