James R. Spencer
James Randolph Spencer | |
---|---|
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
In office March 25, 2014 – June 2, 2017 | |
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
In office 2004–2011 | |
Preceded by | Claude M. Hilton |
Succeeded by | Rebecca Beach Smith |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
In office October 14, 1986 – March 25, 2014 | |
Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | John Ashton MacKenzie |
Succeeded by | M. Hannah Lauck |
Personal details | |
Born | James Randolph Spencer 1949 (age 74–75) J.A.G. Corps |
James Randolph Spencer (born 1949) is a former United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Early life and education
He was born in
J.A.G. Corps. He served in that capacity from 1975 until 1978. After being honorably discharged from active duty, he was appointed Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, serving there from 1978 until 1983. He also was recommissioned in the United States Army Reserves, serving as a Military Judge from 1981 until 1986. From 1983 until 1986, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. In 1985, Spencer earned a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University
.
Federal judicial service
James R. Spencer was nominated by President
African American to be nominated to this position in this district.[citation needed] From 2004 to 2011, Judge Spencer was Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Virginia. He was succeeded as Chief Judge by Rebecca Beach Smith. He assumed senior status
on March 25, 2014. He retired from active service on June 2, 2017.
United States v. Robert McDonnell
He presided over the highly visible trial of former Virginia Governor
United States v. Robert McDonnell
in 2016.
Personal life
His wife, Margaret Spencer is a Judge on the Richmond, Virginia Circuit Court.[4]
See also
- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Virginia
References
- ^ James R. Spencer at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ Helderman, Rosalind (January 21, 2014). "Former Va. Gov. McDonnell and wife charged in gifts case". The Washington Post.
- ^ Zapotsky, Matt (5 September 2014). "Robert McDonnell Guilty of 11 Corruption Counts". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ HOLMBERG: Historic trial of former Governor McDonnell will have historic judge (CBS6 WTVR.com)
External links
- James R. Spencer at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.