Penney S. Azcarate
Penney S. Azcarate | |
|---|---|
| File:Judge Penney.jpg Azcarate presiding over the Depp v. Heard trial in 2022 | |
| Alma mater | George Mason University |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Known for | Depp v. Heard |
Penney S. Azcarate is the chief judge of the circuit court in Fairfax County, Virginia. Azcarate presided over the defamation case brought by actor Johnny Depp against his ex-wife Amber Heard.[1][2][3][4]
Life and career
Azcarate served during the 1991 Persian Gulf War as a US Marine. After her service, she graduated from George Mason University School of Law at George Mason University in 1998 (renamed Antonin Scalia Law School in 2016).[5]
In 2008, Azcarate was elected by the General Assembly to serve on Virginia's General District Court Bench. Her election was historic as she was the first woman to hold this position.[6] While a judge, Azcarate observed a high number of veterans developing criminal records as a result of PTSD. In 2014, she introduced a plan to create a special veterans' treatment docket in Fairfax County, with the goal of preventing veterans from getting criminal records and instead getting the treatment they needed.[7][8] As a result of Azcarate's efforts, by 2016, Fairfax County established a Veterans Treatment Docket in each of its three courts, General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations and Circuit Court.[5][9]
On February 25, 2015, Azcarate was elected by the Virginia General Assembly as the first female chief judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit in Virginia, and took office on July 1.[10][11] Azcarate's predecessor, chief judge Bruce D. White, handled early, pre-trial issues related to the Depp v. Heard case.[12]
References
- ^ Jacobs, Julia (June 1, 2022). "The verdict in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial is in. Here's what to know". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ Jacobs, Julia (June 2, 2022). "Johnny Depp's Win in Court Could Embolden Others, Lawyers Say". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ Patten, Ted Johnson,Dominic; Johnson, Ted; Patten, Dominic (May 31, 2022). "Jurors In Johnny Depp Defamation Trial Pose Question About Headline In Amber Heard's Op Ed". Deadline. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ D’Zurilla, Christie (April 25, 2022). "Judge in Johnny Depp case lays down the law against giggles. Meanwhile, about the alpacas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Honorable Penney Azcarate (Scalia Law '98) – Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic". mvets.law.gmu.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ Jouvenal, Justin (January 3, 2014). "Woman heads Fairfax County District Court for first time". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ Dvorak, Petula (June 2, 2014). "A judge in Fairfax wants to help Virginia's veterans". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ Dvorak, Petula (May 30, 2016). "A troubled Marine goes to Veterans' Court: 'I didn't want to do this. At all.'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ "Veterans Treatment Docket | General District Court". www.fairfaxcounty.gov. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ "Fairfax County has first female chief circuit judge". Virginia Lawyers Weekly. March 2, 2021. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022.
{{cite news}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; April 20, 2021 suggested (help) - ^ Dickey, Josh (May 5, 2022). "Judge's Old-School Rule Is Slowing Down Johnny Depp's Defamation Case Against Amber Heard". The Wrap. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ White, Bruce D. (August 8, 2019). "JOHN C. DEPP II Plaintiff, v. AMBER LAURA HEARD Defendant, / ORDER" (PDF). Fairfax County Circuit Court, Fairfax County, Virginia.
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