Cave to assume duties in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on June 1; last day as commonwealth’s attorney for Page County May 16
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, March 14 — After serving three years as Page County’s commonwealth attorney, Bryan Cave will now be trading in his dark blazer for a black robe and moving up to the bench.
“I am beyond humbled that my colleagues and peers believe that it is something that I could do, believe it is something that I could be good at, and it’s quite a transition for me,” Cave told PVN on Friday. “I have thoroughly loved being an attorney, and I am hoping that this is something that I will love just as much, if not more, in this next chapter of my life.
“It feels odd….I’m about ready to start living what will be the first line of my obituary.”
On Feb. 19, the General Assembly gave final approval to House Resolution 804 certifying Cave as a Juvenile and Domestic Relations judge in the 26th Judicial Circuit. While there was only one vacancy in the 26th, legislators filled 40 bench vacancies statewide. Judge Anthony Bailey of Harrisonburg created the vacancy in the 26th Circuit, when he announced that he would be stepping down this spring.
Cave, 48, previously served as assistant commonwealth attorney in Page County under now-General District Court Judge Kenneth L. Alger II. When the General Assembly confirmed Alger to take the place of retiring Judge Dale Houff of Luray in March of 2022, Cave served as the interim commonwealth’s attorney for the county until a special election was held that November. The next year, Cave won a second uncontested race to secure a full, four-year term that extends through Dec. 31, 2027.
“It’s been an absolute honor serving the citizens of Page County since 2018,” said Cave. “I appreciate the trust that they put in me, and it is bitter sweet to leave this position. I’ve got an amazing staff here, and I work with some of the best law enforcement people in the commonwealth.”
As a life-long resident, Cave is believed to be only the third native of Page County to be elevated to the bench in recent memory. Prior to Alger’s confirmation in 2022, Houff was the last General District Court judge appointed to the bench who resided in Page County back in 2001. However, while Alger was born in Page County, Houff was not. Judge Josh Robinson, who was appointed to the circuit court in the 1970s, was born in Page County in June 1923.
After graduating from Luray High School in 1994, Cave earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 1997 and his law degree from the Appalachian School of Law in 2009. He served as a defense attorney in private practice in Richmond and Page County for nine years before becoming a prosecutor for Page County in 2018. Now, after nearly seven years of prosecuting crimes, Cave will be trying to rule fairly after hearing from both sides.
“I always thought it was helpful to be on both sides of the aisle. I always thought it made me more well rounded, and I think that’s true of a judge,” Cave said. ” I wouldn’t say it’s crucial for a judge, but again I think it makes you more well rounded…to be able to look at things through a different lens.”
Cave hopes to be thought of as a judge, the same way he hopes to be remembered as a prosecutor.
“I want to be remembered as fair and as someone who tried to look out for the victims in Page County of these crimes that were happening,” he said.
“The judges that I hope to emulate and the ones that I have always enjoyed appearing in front of, were judges that knew the law, could apply it fairly, knew how to run a courtroom efficiently, and being able to let all parties leave the courtroom and with dignity,” Cave continued. “Sometimes these individuals are having the worst day of their life…as a judge you have to make decisions and make calls that are going to be tough and you are absolutely going to disappoint and/or anger someone every time. But to be able to do that, do it fairly, and allow those people, who may not have gotten the result they wanted to maintain their dignity … I think is crucial, because it’s only when that happens, that respect within the court and the rule of law is maintained.”
On May 6, Cave will likely be arguing his last jury trial on a special case in Warren County before taking the gavel on June 1. While he has not been told where he will be sitting on the bench — and it could be anywhere in the 26th judicial circuit or rotating within it — he anticipates serving in Page and Rockingham counties.
Regardless of where he sits or what gavel he taps, Cave said the cornerstone of his belief in the courts and the legal system will not waiver.
“The rule of law has to be respected among everything else, even if you don’t like the result it got you. It’s the glue…it keeps us from descending into anarchy. It brings fairness and uniformity to how we do things. That’s why this profession called to me,” Cave said from his Page County office on Friday. “Even if you didn’t get what you wanted…but you were treated as a human being, who feels that they have been heard, then hopefully it takes the sting out just a little bit. I think that’s paramount to how our system works.”
For more information on Page County Courts,
visit https://www.pagecounty.virginia.gov/150/Courts
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