Circuit Court Judge Herbert M. Hewitt administers the Oath of Office to James Michael Sitton II who has been appointed Acting Commonwealth’s Attorney for Essex County.
James Michael Sitton II has been appointed as Acting Commonwealth’s Attorney for Essex County.
Sitton was administered the Oath of Office by Circuit Court Judge Herbert M. Hewitt on June 26. He began his duties on July 1.
Sitton, 46, succeeds Vincent Donoghue who was appointed by the Virginia General Assembly to serve a six-year term on the General District Court bench effective July 1.
Donoghue had served as the county’s chief prosecutor since January 1, 2012.
“This is certainly going to be interesting,” said Sitton, who has been primarily a criminal defense and family law attorney for two decades. “Vince has set a high bar. I’m going to do my best to live up to his legacy and Mac’s (Garrett who held the office prior to Donoghue) legacy. It’s definitely a change of pace and a change of tasks.
“I want to keep justice administered in the county and make sure the citizens get what they deserve as far as being protected,” Sitton added. “We’ll look at what the evidence brings, make sure rights are protected, and balance that while administering justice when necessary.”
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Sitton grew up in the Short Pump area of Henrico County since the age of seven. He graduated from Mills Godwin High School and did his undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University (criminal justice).
He received his law degree from the Regent School of Law in 2004.
Sitton started working with Brent Jackson at Jackson, Pickus and Associates while attending VCU. He stayed with that firm for 13 years. He has also worked at Hill, Tucker, Marsh and Jackson.
Sitton became a sole practitioner in 2010. He has focused his practice here on GAL (Guardian ad litem) work and court appointed criminal defense. A “guardian ad litem” (GAL) is a neutral person a court appoints to investigate what solutions would be in the best interests of a child.
Sitton has been working in the legal system on the Middle Peninsula/Northern Neck since he started with Brent Jackson in 1997.
“I fell in love with the area and always wanted to move out this way,” he says. “I enjoy the area for the rural landscapes and water. My family and I spend as much time on the river as we can. Fishing, tubing, and general boating is our favorite past-time.”
He raised his two nieces since they were ages 13 and 11, both of whom have graduated from college (one a kindergarten teacher and the other a pediatric nurse).
“Once my nieces completed college, I found some land and built my home here, moving (to Tappahannock) in December 2022,” he said, noting his family has a passion for helping children. “I’m intending to make Essex my home for the remainder of my life.”
Sitton told the Rappahannock Times he will be a candidate in a November special election to fill the remainder of Donoghue’s term which expires December 31, 2027.
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