Governor Phil Scott has appointed Farzana Leyva of Westfield as state's attorney for Orleans County. Leyva has served as acting state’s attorney since last September, when Scott appointed former state’s attorney Jennifer Barrett to the superior court.
“Farzana is well respected in the community and has proven herself to be hard-working and dedicated to the role,” Scott said. “I’m confident she will continue to serve the people of Orleans County well as state’s attorney.”
Leyva has worked in the Orleans County state’s attorney’s office since 2018, first as a law clerk and then as a deputy state’s attorney. Previously, she worked for the Vermont Judiciary in 2015. During her time with the state’s attorney’s office, Leyva has prosecuted many cases, including those involving domestic violence, sexual assault, drunken driving, aggravated assault, robbery, juvenile cases and Vermont Supreme Court appeals.
Leyva earned a law degree from Howard College School of Law in South Africa. She was admitted to the Vermont Bar in 2019.