Jim Gochenour

Jim Gochenour originates from the Fredericksburg area and Westmoreland County, Virginia. He is an alumnus of Woodberry Forest School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The College of William and Mary in 1984. He later obtained his law degree from the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law in 1987.

Jim began his legal career in a small general practice, advancing from associate to partner, and eventually becoming a solo practitioner. In 1992, Jim transitioned to criminal law as he was appointed the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Westmoreland County by the judges of the 15th Judicial Court. Two years later, he became an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Hampton, Virginia. Over more than a decade, he served as Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, managing a team of attorneys and handling significant cases including first-degree murders, abductions, bank robberies, aggravated malicious woundings, and numerous drug-related offenses. He also oversaw DWI trials for several years.

Jim contributed to the legal community by assisting in teaching trial skills courses for the National District Attorneys Association. In 2004, with the establishment of a Public Defender office in Hampton, Jim was appointed as the first Public Defender. He expanded the office to include 14 attorneys, 2 investigators, 2 sentencing advocates, office staff, and an office manager. During his tenure, he actively participated in the local and state Drug Court initiatives.