The Newport News Bar Association (NNBA) was honored in September during a ceremony at Newport News Circuit Courthouse. Two prestigious awards from the Virginia State Bar Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations were conferred: the 2025 Bar Association of the Year, Virginia’s highest honor for bar associations; and an Award of Merit for “Jazz4Justice,” recognizing excellence in a single project serving the bench, bar and people of Virginia. Formed to benefit lawyers working or living in Newport News, NNBA has a two-fold purpose to improve the judicial process in Newport News and support the local legal community.
Notable ceremony attendees included the Honorable Judge Matthew W. Hoffman (who conducted the ceremony); the Honorable Angela F. Reason, Clerk of Circuit Court, Newport News; Newport News Sheriff Gabe Morgan; and current NNBA president Irving B. “Chip” Goldstein, of Goldstein, Edgar & Reagan.
“An award like this is not granted because of one president or member’s efforts, but from the combined efforts of the team working together over years to build an effective program,” explains Goldstein. “The award was a surprise, because we’re smaller than many local bar associations and don’t have all the resources bigger associations have. What we do have is a history of strong leadership and enthusiastic attorneys who care about Newport News and our legal community.”
Jordan C. Heath, Esq. of Heath & Verser PLC, was NNBA president when the award was applied for and received. “I sent the Jazz4Justice fundraising accomplishment shortly after sending the nomination letter,” Heath says, adding that more than $125,000 has been raised to date.
Kelly Rossum, professor of music and director of Jazz Studies at Christopher Newport University (CNU), brings together current students, faculty and alumni to perform at the Jazz4Justice concerts, which began in 2014.
“It started through conversations with Ed Weiner, founder of the concerts while his daughter was attending CNU,” Rossum says. “We envisioned launching the program, and with the critical help of Heath and the dedicated service of our planning committee, we created a strong community event that is going strong.”
The 2025 Jazz4Justice concert netted more than $22,000, divided between the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia and the CNU Education Foundation’s dedicated jazz program scholarship and support.
“Jazz4Justice and our other programming bring a growing feeling of excitement and cohesion in the NNBA,” Goldstein says. “I am grateful to be a part of it.”
The Newport News legal community continues to thrive and give back despite regional lawyer shortages. The Jazz4Justice program demonstrates innovative community engagement that could inspire other professional organizations.
“Newport News lawyers have a long and extensive history of civic engagement and support to the community,” Goldstein says. “Lawyers can only do their jobs because the clerks, the sheriff’s offices and the police do theirs.”
In addition to Heath, the NNBA leadership includes Nicholas Nunes, of David, Kamp & Frank, LLC, treasurer; and Adriana Jimenez, of Sarfan & Nachman, LLC, secretary.
In its nomination of NNBA, Heath stressed the adaptations the association has made over the past year to the changing economy and the reduction of lawyers in the Newport News region. “Over the last several years, the NNBA has focused on presenting high quality Continuing Legal Education (CLE), providing opportunities to inform members on important matters facing the court, bar and the surrounding community. It also promotes the legal profession, the well-being of members and the talented residents of Newport News,” Goldstein says.
Another NNBA initiative is a 501(c)(3) organization called The Student Trial Advocates Reaching Success (STARS) program, founded and run by NNBA member Shannon Jones. STARS students are mentored and ultimately participate in a mock trial event at the Newport News Circuit Courthouse.
“While the program centers on a mock trial, its primary focus is on the mentorship students receive from Newport News attorneys, judges and law enforcement,” Heath says. “The program aims to foster positive interactions between the community and the legal system.”
This year, the association is sponsoring 16 students and three adult chaperones. The STARS students are predominantly minority students from lower-income households. Heath says members hope these students will be inspired not only to pursue careers in law, but also to return to the community.
“It’s been my pleasure to work with a talented and dedicated board of directors,” Heath says. “As a board, we are quite proud of our profession and our organization.”
The 2026 Jazz4Justice will be held on April 14 at 7 p.m. and ticket information is available by contacting Goldstein.
“As Newport News Clerk of the Circuit Court, it is always encouraging to see an active bar association in one’s community,” Reason says. “Most notably, the Jazz4Justice concert and fundraiser is an incredible opportunity to educate the public about the justice gap, raise funds for Legal Aid and support music programs and scholarships. I am excited to continue working in conjunction with the Newport News Bar Association to bring vital resources directly into our community.”
TO THE POINT:
Newport News Bar Association
Address: 741 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601
Contact: Irving B. “Chip” Goldstein; Goldstein, Edgar & Reagan
Email: igoldstein@IGBLAW.com
Phone: 757-873-8773
