Bernadette Peele (center), Prince William Assistant County Attorney, received the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc. Cherin Award for Outstanding Deputy or Assistant Local Government Attorney. Pictured with Peele are her husband and members of the Prince William County Attorney’s Office. From left to right, Michelle Robl, County Attorney; Chanel Hall, Chris Peele, Rob Skoff, Angela MacFarlane, Curt Spear and Katie Barron.
Prince William Assistant County Attorney Bernadette S. Peele was honored by the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, Inc. (LGA) with the 2016 Cherin Award for Outstanding Deputy or Assistant Local Government Attorney at LGA’s recently concluded spring conference in Virginia Beach.
Peele was selected for the LGA’s prestigious Cherin Award in recognition of her “distinguished public service that reflects a personal commitment to the highest ethical and professional principles and enhances the image of local government attorneys in the Commonwealth.”
During her tenure representing Prince William County, Peele has become a recognized expert in financial areas of local government law, saving Prince William County taxpayers millions of dollars. She has enhanced the image of local government through service to her community, focusing her attention on the needs of the elderly and mentally ill.
Prince William County Attorney Michelle Robl nominated Ms. Peele for the award, describing her as “the epitome of a true public servant” who has served the citizens of Prince William County and the legal profession over the last 25 years “with great distinction.”
Peele received her Bachelor’s Degree from Hampton University in 1985 and her Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1988. She resides in Prince William County with her husband of 27 years, Chris Peele. They have two sons: Cameron, who is also a graduate of Hampton University and resides in Alexandria, and Dorian, who is a sophomore at Mary Washington University.
The Cherin Award was established in 1994 and renamed in 2000 to honor the memory of Bob Cherin, an outstanding local government attorney who served in the Fairfax County Attorney’s Office for 25 years.