Fairfax General District Court Judicial Screening Online Membership Vote
The online membership vote for candidates for an anticipated judicial vacancy on the General District Court bench will take place from November 17, 2020 through November 24, 2020at 4:00 PM. Only
Regular and Honorary Members of the FBA are eligible to vote. In order to vote, Regular and Honorary Members must have a valid email address on file with the Fairfax Bar Association.
Eligible members may vote from any location providing Internet access. A computer will be made available at the FBA office, should any member need to vote at that location.
EXPLANATION OF VOTING CATEGORIES: The following are general definitions of the judicial ballot voting categories. A vote must be entered for each applicant. If you do not have sufficient knowledge about an applicant, your vote should be "No Opinion.”
- ENDORSED: By voting "ENDORSED" you are affirmatively asserting your belief that the particular applicant’s name should be submitted to the legislature for consideration as a judicial applicant by the Fairfax Bar
Association.
- NOT ENDORSED: By voting "NOT ENDORSED" you are asserting your belief that the particular applicant’s name should not be submitted to the legislature for consideration as a judicial applicant by the Fairfax Bar Association.
- NO OPINION: A "NO OPINION" vote means you do not feel you have sufficient knowledge of the applicant to vote "ENDORSED" or "NOT ENDORSED".
Candidate Information: Below you will find the following information for each candidate.
- Biographical information submitted by the candidate
- Photograph
- Findings of the FBA Judicial Screening Panel that screened the candidates
- Executive Summary of the FBA Screening Panel (click on the candidate's name to view this)
Note: the Executive Summary for each candidate will also be found on the ballot – click on “Read A Full Description” under each candidate to review the Executive Summary
as you vote.
If you have any questions about the online election, please contact the Fairfax Bar Association at 703-246-2740.
| Candidates |
Biographies
|
 |
Alexander J. Gordon
Committee Recommendation - Recommended
Alex Gordon is a graduate of JMU and the University of Georgia School of Law. He began his career in southwest Florida in 1994 doing almost all types of civil litigation.
He joined the Fairfax Public Defender’s office in 2000. In 2006, he started The Gordon Law Firm and has helped more than 5000 people get a second chance in northern Virginia criminal and traffic courts. He has served on the FBA Judicial Selection committee from 2014-2018 and has been CLE presenter on ethics and advertising issues since 2008.
Alex has been married 20 years and has two sons.
|
 |
Carly Jehlen Hart
Committee Recommendation - Recommended
Carly Jehlen Hart was educated in the Fairfax County public school system attending Lake Braddock Secondary. Ms. Hart graduated from University of South Florida with two B.A. degrees, received her M.A. from Trinity College, and completed her J.D. at George Mason University School of Law. Ms. Hart joined the McGlone Law Firm in 2011 specializing in traffic and criminal defense litigation. As a partner of her current firm, she has since expanded her practice to include civil and domestic litigation. Ms. Hart donates her time to the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, Military Pro Bono Project, and Legal Services of Northern Virginia.
|
 |
Vanessa R. Jordan
Committee Recommendation - Recommended
Vanessa R. Jordan began practicing law in 2006 in the Fredericksburg Office of the Public Defender, reaching the level of Senior Assistant Public Defender before transitioning into private practice. Vanessa is a certified Guardian ad litem for children. She represents clients in both criminal and civil proceedings.
Vanessa’s involvement in professional and community organizations ensures she remains connected to her peers and her community. She is the Immediate Past-President and a former Social Committee Chair of the Northern Virginia Black Attorneys Association. When she has spare time, Vanessa enjoys reading, cooking, and shopping for bargains.
|
|
|
John A. Kassabian
Committee Recommendation - Recommended
John Kassabian is a principal with Kassabian & Kassabian, PLC, engaged in the general practice of law with emphasis on criminal defense. Since 2007, he regularly serves as a substitute judge in Fairfax County. John is the Fairfax City Prosecutor and former Fairfax County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney. He serves on the Virginia State Bar Lawyers Disciplinary Committee, the Virginia State Bar Special Committee on Lawyer Referral Service, FBA Board of Directors, and serves on the FBA General District Court Committee, since 2008. He is the Ombudsman of the FBA Judicial Feedback Program. John is a lifelong resident of Fairfax County.
|
 |
Gary H. Moliken
Committee Recommendation - Highly Recommended
For over 30 years, I have been engaged in a litigation oriented, private practice, primarily as a civil and criminal defense attorney, appearing regularly in the Fairfax General District Court. I previously served on the General District Court Committee, Co Chair of the Criminal Law Subsection. I also served two terms on Bar Council, and am currently a conciliator for the courts.
Immediately after law school, I held a two year clerkship with the Justice Department Attorney Honors Program, DEA Section. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, and my law degree from George Mason in 1987.
|
 |
Lena Munasifi
Committee Recommendation - Qualified
I am a first-generation American, raised to respect the United States and our system of government. I was privileged to work in the U.S. Senate prior to law school at William and Mary. After clerking for Federal District Judge Claude Hilton, I served as a prosecutor for nine years in both Fairfax County and the Eastern District of Virginia. Seeking to expand my practice, I moved to the General Counsel’s Office at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where I have led two major agency projects and conducted disciplinary investigations. I am involved in my church and Virginia Hospital Center.
|
|
Print Page
.png)
