Q&A with the Honorable John Tran

Written by AAPAAN Board Member Joseph Nah

On April 4, 2013, the Virginia General Assembly elected Judge John Tran as the next Circuit Court Judge in Fairfax County, Virginia. By this election, Judge Tran became the first ever full-time Asian American Circuit Court Judge in a Virginia court. He is scheduled to take the bench on July 1st of this year. Currently, he is a partner of the law firm of DimuroGinsberg, P.C. in Alexandria and practicing law in the Northern Virginia area. He had previously served as a prosecutor in the Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia.

At the Signature Event’s Dinner, The Honorable John Tran presented a Q&A
Session hosted by Ken Liu, AAPAAN’s past Chair, revealing intimate details of his journey to become the first full-time Asian American Circuit Court Judge in Virginia.

Judge Tran was the son of a South Vietnamese Diplomat and grew up in the
Northern Virginia area. He explained how in April 1975, Saigon fell while his father was serving as a diplomat in Vietnam. As a result, his father was captured and held prisoner by Vietnam for over a decade. Judge Tran told the story of how at times, he heard his mother cry behind closed doors. While he grew up in Virginia, he attended George Washington University for college and law school because he needed to stay close to take care of his mother and his family.

Judge Tran’s beginnings are a familiar immigrant story. Prior to the fall of Saigon, his father brought several aunts, uncles, and cousins from Vietnam. As a result, he grew up in a house that had to accomodate 13 people. He recalls how the IRS often audited his parents, as 13 dependents were claimed on a $25,000 income. Throughout his studies, Judge Tran did his work on the sleeper in the living room and never had his own bathroom until more recently when his daughter moved to college.

As far as he could recall, Judge Tran wanted to go to law school from an early age. He was encouraged by his father to become an international lawyer having been given a book on Winston Churchill. Judge Tran also liked to solve problems and he wanted to help and represent individuals in need. His family had a lawyer and remembers each of the “No/Charge” statements on the bill that made a tremendous difference for his family. Because he learned and carried that practice of “No/Charge” into his private practice, at times his partners became unhappy.

Judge Tran did not seek the bench but many encouraged him to run. To him,
it was “impossible to become a judge without the support and encouragement
of others.” Gerald Bruce Lee, the first African American District Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia intervened, encouraged, and mentored Judge Tran to seek a judgeship. Judge Lee told him, “We have an obligation to give back to the minority community.” He was also encouraged by Judge Leoni Brinkema the first female judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Judge Tran found the process in becoming a judge to be open and encouraging. He met many attorneys and judges all across Virginia saying, “come join us.”

Judge Tran is excited to become a judge and represent the 18% of the
population that is Asian American. He hoped that no one would notice that
he would be the first Asian American judge and at times is scared to carry the burden of being a “pioneer.”

Judge Tran hopes to emulate his Judge hero–Judge Albert V. Bryan, who
was very quiet but carried a big stick. Judge Bryan never raised his voice,
but everyone respected him for his intellect and integrity. Known for his soft voice and “laid-back” personality, Judge Tran has found success without having an aggressive personality. Judge Tran said, as a lawyer you have to be assertive, but you do not have to be loud or aggressive. The law allows you to win your position, “based on the strength of your arguments”

In his final remarks, he advised everyone to, “Be yourself, be dedicated — Use the strength we come from.”