James A. “Jay” Leftwich, Jr. has been rooted in Chesapeake for a lifetime. After graduating from Chesapeake Public Schools, Jay furthered his education at James Madison University then obtained his J.D. from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. Jay returned to Chesapeake to launch his career and is a Partner at Basnight, Kinser, Leftwich & Nuckolls, P.C., where he has been for 29 years. Jay successfully won election to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2013 to represent the 78th District, which is located in Chesapeake. He currently serves on the following committees: Courts of Justice, Education, General Laws, and Privileges and Elections in the House. Jay is also the Chairman of the House Courts of Justice Subcommittee #2, Privileges and Elections Subcommittee #2, and the Education Subcommittee #3.

Virginia General Assembly – Past and Present Committees
Civil Subcommittee
Ethics Subcommittee
Judicial Panel Subcommittee
General Laws Subcommittee #4
Education Innovation Subcommittee
Mental Health Subcommittee
Broadband Advisory Council
Child Support Guidelines Review Panel
Geographic Information Network Advisory Board
Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation

Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Champion of Freedom Award
Virginia Clerk’s Association Legislator of the Year

Community Service

Jay is a firm believer in community service. His record of community involvement reflects his deep commitment to Chesapeake and its citizens.

Chesapeake Public Schools, Chairman, 2012 – 2013
Chesapeake Public Schools, Vice Chairman, 2010 – 2012
Chesapeake Public Schools, Board Member, 2002 – 2013

Chesapeake Public Schools, School Board Appointments

• Legal Services Committee
• Chesapeake Public Schools Educational Foundation
• Access College Foundation
• Governor’s School for the Arts
• Southeastern Cooperative Association
• Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs, “SECEP”

Member and Former Elder, Great Bridge Presbyterian Church
Member, Small Group Bible Study, Founding Member of Current Small Group

Active Participant in Support of:

• NEST
• Young Life
• Youth Ministry
• Stop Hunger Now
• Pro Bono Legal Services

Chesapeake Rotary Club
Former Director, Tidewater Pastoral Counseling Services, Inc.
Parent Teacher Association
Recipient, Multiple Sclerosis Leadership Award
Coach, High School Model Judiciary Program
Coach, Chesapeake Recreational Department
Great Bridge Jaycees (1988 until aged out) President 1991

• Founded Walkathon for Chesapeake Care, Inc., Free Medical Clinic
• Chesapeake First Citizen’s Award Committee Chairman, Multiple Years
• Chesapeake Christmas Parade Committee Member, 10+ Years
• Oyster Roast Committee Chairman, Multiple Years

Ruritans – President 2000, Vice President 1999, Secretary 1998, Treasurer 1997

Chesapeake Care Free Clinic, Former Director

• Long Range Planning Committee
• Building Committee
• Constitution and Bylaws Committee
• Building- Fundraising Committee
• Pro Bono Legal Services

American Cancer Society, Virginia Division, Portsmouth/Chesapeake, Former Director

Chesapeake Public Schools, Optimizing Technology Action Team, Former Member

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center Bra-ha-ha Fundraising, Volunteer

Professional Highlights

Fellow, Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership, At the University of Virginia

Virginia State Bar – 1988 to Present

• Section Member, Family Law
• Section Member, Environmental Law
• Section Member, Health Law

Admitted to Practice in all Virginia Courts, the United States District Court, 4th Circuit and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Cullen Commission, Virginia General Assembly, Former Member, Courts of Justice Subcommittee

Interviews, Evaluates and Makes Recommendations in Regard to Applicants Seeking Appointment to the Virginia Court of Appeals

Chesapeake Bar Association – President 1999

• The Chesapeake Bar Association has received two Merit Achievement Awards from the Virginia State Bar during its existence: both projects were begun and implemented during Jay’s Presidency in 1999: (1) High School Docent/Mentoring Program and (2) Chesapeake Bar Association Website. The Chesapeake Bar Association also started a Charitable Foundation in 1999.

Chesapeake Bar Association High School Docent/Mentoring Program

The Docent/Mentoring Program of the Chesapeake Bar Association was organized to provide the public high schools in the City of Chesapeake with the following services from the Chesapeake Bar Association: provide classroom speakers, assist in the organization of law related field trips, pass out “So Your Eighteen” brochures, facilitate law related employment/internships for interested students, and provide scholarships subject to availability of funds. Each Public High School was assigned a liaison who was a member of the Chesapeake Bar Association and each Public High School provided a contact person.

The Committee consisted of seven members of the Bar, an attorney for each high school in the city of Chesapeake and the Chairman of the Committee. If a speaker was needed or a student was interested in an internship or employment, the teacher would contact the attorney assigned to his or her high school and that attorney would facilitate the request by contacting one or more members of the Chesapeake Bar Association.

Additionally, the Chesapeake Bar Association made a grant request from the Virginia Law Foundation to sponsor a trip for Chesapeake high school students to the Virginia Supreme Court and to the United States Supreme Court. After the grant request was approved the Virginia Supreme Court field trip was taken in the fall of 2000 and the United States Supreme Court field trip was taken in the spring of 2001.

“Top 40 Under 40″ professionals in the Hampton Roads Area, 2000, Inside Business Magazine
Who’s Who in American Law – Millennium Edition
Lifetime Member National Registry of Who’s Who, 2001 Edition Registry Number 179433
Family Law Organization of Hampton Roads, Former Member
I’Anson Hoffman Inns of Court, Former Member
Former Judicial Circuit Representative to Young Lawyers Conference
Chesapeake Division of Chamber of Commerce, Former Member