Hon. Catherine C. Hammond (Ret.)

Judge Hammond began serving on the Henrico Circuit Court in 1999, as the Governor’s appointee. She was elected by the General Assembly in 2000, reelected in 2008, and retired with over 16 years of judicial service. Before joining the bench, Judge Hammond practiced law in Richmond, handling complex commercial litigation. Her caseload included all kinds of business disputes, with clients ranging from banks, broker-dealers, and insurers to manufacturers and other general businesses, national and local. She also tried personal injury cases, most often car crashes, in Circuit Court and General District Court, as insurance defense counsel. From 1994 to 1998 Judge Hammond (Ret.) was the Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation, responsible for all tort claims against the state (including medical malpractice actions against state hospitals, nurses and physicians), state employment disputes, state construction litigation, and public utility cases for rate regulation. She was lead counsel in litigation invloving the conversion of Blue Cross and Blue Shield from a not-for-profit mutual company to a for-profit stock company. She personally appeared on behalf of the Commonwealth in state and federal courts, trial and appellate, and at the SCC.

On the bench, Judge Hammond served as Chief Judge for three non-consecutive terms of two years each. She heard all matters in Circuit Court involving the Commissioner of Accounts, and she enjoys mediating family disputes about wills and testamentary estates. In 2002, Judge Hammond and Judge Gary Hicks worked closely with the Henrico County Manager, Sheriff Michael Wade, Henrico Police, and Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services to improve community health by creating the the County’s first Adult Drug Treatment Court. It has now operated continuously for over 20 years. After retiring, Judge Hammond joined the Faculty of the National Drug Court Institute and travels throughout the 50 states to conduct trainings in best practices for Adult Drug Treatment Courts. A lifelong volunteer, Judge Hammond was recognized by Virginia Lawyers’ Weekly in its annual Hall of Fame. She also received its Influential Women of Virginia award. She is the recipient of the annual Award of Achievement by the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association. Judge Hammond became the owner of Juridical Solutions PLC in 2018. In January 2024 Juridical Solutions PLC ownership was transferred to Judge Jeanette Irby.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE

Former President, The John Marshall American Inn of Court

Former Board Member, The Greater Richmond Bar Foundation

Former Member, Standing Committee on Commissioners of Accounts

Faculty, National Drug Court Institute

Former Chair, Hammond Commission on Community Services and Inpatient Care

Former Chair, St. Andrew’s School Board

Former Editorial Board Member, Virginia Bench Book for Lawyers and Judges

Former Faculty Member, Virginia State Bar Professionalism Course

Graduate, Leadership Metro Richmond and Virginia Executive Institute

Former Deputy Attorney General of Virginia, Civil Litigation Division

Former Partner, McGuireWoods (Richmond)