Behind the bench

When Dennis L. Hupp ('73) began practicing law in 1977, he never imagined that 15 years later he would be the one behind the bench. "It was a surprise," he says. "Things just fell into place."

After graduating from Madison College with a bachelor's in political science and a minor in economics, Hupp continued his studies at the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. He received his law degree and returned to the Shenandoah Valley to begin general practice with the law firm of Perry W. Sarver, with whom he formed a partnership in 1981. Two years later, Hupp began solo practice when his partner was appointed as a Circuit Court Judge.

In 1992, Hupp received the same honor from the Virginia General Assembly, when it appointed him a judge in the 26th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. "I feel like I've found my niche," says Hupp. "I like what I do."

The Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Virginia with the authority to try a full range of both civil and criminal cases. The commonwealth's Circuit Court system is composed of 31 judicial circuits with 122 separate courts in the various counties and cities in the state. The 26th Circuit is composed of the cities of Harrisonburg and Winchester and the counties of Rockingham, Shenandoah, Page, Warren, Clarke and Frederick. Hupp is one of five judges in the Circuit and primarily sits in Shenandoah and Warren County handling criminal and civil cases. During a typical day on the bench, Hupp decides a variety of cases. "It can range from a speeding ticket case," he says, "to deciding whether or not to impose the death penalty."

The responsibility of making such important decisions can be difficult. "Every time I make a decision, someone is affected by it," he says. "Most decisions have a significant impact on someone's life, and that is a very sobering thought."

Yet Hupp has determined how to deal with the difficulty. "You learn to make a decision and move on," he says. "Because of the amount of cases, you simply can't get bogged down on any one case. There will always be another case to decide the next day. The most important thing is to be fair. I pray every morning for God's guidance, for wisdom, and that justice be done in my courtroom.".

Hupp lives in Strasburg with his wife, Donna, and children David and Miley.

By Kara Carpenter ('00)