The Essential Role of the Judge in Youth Justice Transformation (ft. Hon. Thomas Sotelo)
Episode Description
In this episode, RFK National Resource Center’s Executive Director, John Tuell, speaks with Judge Thomas P. Sotelo, Chief Judge of Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Through their conversation, Judge Sotelo shares his perspective on judicial leadership, hope and redemption, the importance of transparency, and embracing research and best practices to improve youth outcomes and system performance.
SEASON TWO: Episode Two | RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2023
About the Guest
Honorable Thomas Sotelo
Chief Judge | Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court | Fairfax, Virginia
Judge Thomas Sotelo was appointed to the Bench in December 2008 and is in his third term, currently serving as Chief Judge (Chief Judge appointments: July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018; July 1, 2021 – present). Judge Sotelo presently serves on numerous committees, which include: Virginia Council of Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court Judges (past board member); Advisory Committee to the Court Appointed Special Advocate and Children’s Justice Act Programs (Chair); Advisory Committee for Judicial Mentoring Program (committee member and mentor judge); DOE Local School Superintendents/Judicial Liaison Committee; and Fairfax County JDRDC Supervised Visitation and Exchange Program Advisory Board. His previous memberships include: Parent Education Advisory Committee; Vision 21: Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth Advisory Council; and Region 6 (Northern Virginia) Representative, Judicial Liaison Committee, Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (Chair from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018; Member of Standardized Dispositional Matrix Stakeholder Group). He also served on the Virginia State Bar’s Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course Faculty. Judge Sotelo is a frequent speaker/panelist at continuing legal education, bar, and judicial events. Judge Sotelo practiced law for approximately 18 years. His areas of concentration included domestic relations, juvenile and criminal law.