The Hon. Gwendolyn J. Jackson (Ret.) served as a judge for the 4th Judicial District Court of Virginia. Jackson was elected to the bench by the Virginia General Assembly in 1991. She retired on February 28, 2015.
The 4th Judicial District encompasses the City of Norfolk.
Prior to her election, Jackson was a partner at Sams, Shelton, Anderson & Jackson, a law firm based in Norfolk. She represented clients in cases involving employment, business, personal injury, and real estate matters.
Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Hampton University. She then completed a J.D. at the University of Virginia School of Law.
After graduating from law school, Jackson began her legal career as an associate at Hill, Tucker & Marsh in Richmond. During her tenure there, she specialized in employment discrimination cases.
Her memberships have included the Vocational Education Advisory Council of the Norfolk School Board and the board of the City of Norfolk Employees Retirement System. She has served as the Area II Director of the Hampton Roads NAACP, and she has been involved with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Silhouettes of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and the Woman’s Club of Norfolk.
She is a recipient of the Pro Bono Award from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (1987).
Jackson is married to the Hon. Raymond Jackson, a senior judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.