Commonwealth’s Attorney C. Phillips “Phil” Ferguson has been elected by the attorneys of the Fifth Judicial Circuit to serve a three-year term on the Virginia State Bar Council.

The council is the governing body for the Virginia State Bar, which regulates the legal profession in Virginia.

“It was an area I wanted to try to do because there was a real distinct shortage of Commonwealth’s Attorneys on the bar council,” Ferguson said. “It’s an area I felt I could lend some assistance.”

About 80 attorneys serve on the bar council, including ex-officio and members-at-large. To be chosen, Ferguson had to be nominated by a group of at least 10 attorneys and then be elected by all of the attorneys in the Fifth Circuit, which includes Suffolk, Franklin, and Isle of Wight and Southampton counties.

The Virginia State Bar exists to regulate the legal profession in the state, improve public access to legal services and improve the legal system in general. It handles professional discipline of attorneys, legal ethics, continuing education and other functions.

Ferguson has been Suffolk’s Commonwealth’s Attorney since 1978 after leaving a career in banking and business. He obtained his law degree from the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in 1974, and his undergraduate degree in business administration in 1971, also from William and Mary.

Ferguson currently serves on the board of directors of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys and has previously served on the executive committee and been in the offices of president, vice president and secretary-treasurer. He has served on the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Services Council in numerous offices and has previously served as president of the Virginia Association of Local Elected Constitutional Officers. He has also held all the offices in the Suffolk Bar Association.

“I am honored to be able to serve the attorneys of the Fifth Judicial Circuit and will do my best to assist in improving the legal profession and the judicial system in the state of Virginia,” Ferguson said. “Ultimately, justice must always be our primary goal.”

Ferguson is replacing William Riddick of Smithfield, who has represented the Fifth Circuit the last six years. Members who serve a three-year term are eligible for one re-election.