Group promotes write-in candidacy of Simpkins for Commonwealth’s Attorney

A local group calling itself “Friends of Angi Simpkins” is promoting a write-in campaign for the Dublin attorney in the Pulaski County Commonwealth’s Attorney race.

Only one candidate – Justin L. Griffith – is listed on the ballot in Tuesday’s election.

Griffith, a Democrat, is the current Commonwealth’s Attorney. He took over the position on July 1, succeeding Mike Fleenor who was elected by the Virginia General Assembly as a Circuit Court Judge in the 27th Judicial Circuit. Griffith had previously been Fleenor’s chief deputy for several years.

The winner Tuesday will finish out the final three years of term Fleenor won in 2019.

Simpkins is in her twentieth year of practicing law. She is a 1994 graduate of Pulaski County High School and the Southwest Virginia Governor’s School. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English in 1996. She then received her Juris Doctor Degree from the Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University in 2000.

During law school, she worked as a legal intern for the law firm of Gilmer, Sadler, Ingram, Sutherland & Hutton in Pulaski. She also served as a law clerk for the District of Columbia Superior Courts and as a legal intern in the Fairfax County Public Defender’s Office.

Following her graduation from law school and admittance to the Virginia State Bar, Simpkins practiced law as an associate for the law firm of Gilmer, Sadler, Ingram, Sutherland & Hutton Law Firm until July 2003. From 2003 to 2007, she was a sole practitioner with her office in Dublin. Since 2007, she has been a partner in the Dublin law firm of Barbour & Simpkins, LLP.

Her primary practice areas have been criminal law, domestic relations and the representation of children and elderly in legal proceedings. She practices in courts throughout the New River Valley and Southwest Virginia.

In addition to her active practice of law, Simpkins serves as a substitute judge for the 27th Judicial Circuit and as Chair for the Ninth District Ethics Committee of the Virginia State Bar. Previously, she served as a member of the Montgomery County Drug Court Treatment Team and as President of the Pulaski County Bar Association.

Simpkins’ community activities include past service as President of the Parent Teacher Organization at Snowville Elementary School, as a youth sports coach, and as a Cub Scout Master. Angi currently serves as President of the Dayspring Christian Academy Board of Directors. She teaches high school government and advance placement government and politics classes at Dayspring.

Simpkins resides in the Snowville Community with her husband, Dwayne and sons, Trevor and Ty. Dwayne is a self-employed welder, and the Simpkins family operates a small Angus beef cattle farm.