NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
John L. Brownlee United States Attorney Brian McGinn Public Affairs Specialist |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2974 FAX (540) 857-2179 |
March 28, 2008
THOMAS J. BONDURANT JR. ADMITTED TO
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TRIAL LAWYERS
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee proudly announced today that Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Thomas J. Bondurant Jr has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America.
Mr. Bondurant became a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers before an audience of approximately 700 people during the recent 2008 Spring Meeting of the College in Tucson, Arizona.
“Mr. Bondurant is one of the finest and hardest working trial lawyers I have ever had the pleasure to work with,” said U.S. Attorney John Brownlee today. “I want to congratulate him for achieving this remarkable and well-deserved recognition.”
Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only, and only after careful investigation, to those trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.
Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years experience before they can be considered for fellowship. Membership in the College cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. There are currently approximately 5,675 members of the American College of Trial Lawyers throughout the United States and Canada. In comparison, there are currently approximately 1.2 million lawyers in the United States and another 67,000 in Canada. Levels of membership within the College range from active Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, Judicial Fellows (those who ascended to the bench after their induction) and Honorary Fellows.
A native of Russell County, Virginia, Mr. Bondurant attended Emory & Henry College where he graduated with a double major in political science and economics/business administration. Following his undergraduate work, Mr. Bondurant graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law. While at the University of Richmond, he served as the Editor in Chief of the Law Review and was a member of the McNeil Law Society.
Mr. Bondurant has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia since 1979. He is currently the Chief of the Criminal Division. Previously, he served as the Senior Litigation Counsel and the Lead Prosecutor for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
The College strives to improve and elevate the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the trial profession. Qualified lawyers are called to Fellowship in the College from all branches of trial practice. They are carefully selected from among those who customarily represent plaintiffs in civil cases and those who customarily represent defendants, those who prosecute accused of crime and those who defend them. The College is therefore able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice.