Tracy Thorne

Tracy William Thorne-Begland is an American judge on the General District Court of Richmond, Virginia, appointed in 2012. Born on October 3, 1966, Thorne-Begland served in a jet combat squadron of the United States Navy after graduating from university. During the 1992 presidential campaign, he appeared on Nightline to criticize the Navy's policy on excluding homosexuals, identifying himself as gay, and was honorably discharged. This experience sparked his interest in the law, leading him to graduate from law school. Thorne-Begland served as a prosecutor for twelve years before being nominated for a seat on the General District Court. Despite facing rejection from the Virginia House of Delegates due to perceived advocacy on homosexual issues, the Richmond Circuit Court judges granted him a temporary appointment.