RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Donald W. Lemons has been sworn in as the new chief justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. A veteran of the Supreme Court bench, Lemons’ investiture occurred Thursday in Richmond. He succeeds Chief Justice Cynthia Kinser, who retired Dec. 31. Gov. Terry McAuliffe and House Speaker William J. Howell spoke at the investiture. Lemons’ four-year term began with the start of the new year. The General Assembly elected Lemons twice as a justice, in 2000 and 2012. He previously served as judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia and as a Richmond Circuit Court judge. Lemons received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Richmond.
