Rebecca Beach Smith
Rebecca Beach Smith | |
---|---|
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
Assumed office August 1, 2019 | |
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
In office December 4, 2011 – December 4, 2018 | |
Preceded by | James R. Spencer |
Succeeded by | Mark Steven Davis |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
In office October 25, 1989 – August 1, 2019 | |
Appointed by | George H. W. Bush |
Preceded by | David Dortch Warriner |
Succeeded by | Roderick C. Young |
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia | |
In office 1985–1989 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1949 (age 74–75) Hopewell, Virginia, U.S. |
Education | College of William & Mary (BA, JD) University of Virginia (MA) |
Rebecca Beach Smith (born 1949) is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and a civic leader. Among her many decisions is the 2011 ruling that decided the title to and restrictions upon artifacts salvaged from the wreck of the RMS Titanic.
Early life, education
Smith was born in Hopewell, Virginia.[1] She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William & Mary in 1971, and then received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Virginia in 1973.[1] After she worked as a planning analyst for Enviro-Med, Inc. (1973-1974) and research associate at the National Academy of Sciences (1974-1977), Smith attended law school and received her Juris Doctor from William & Mary Law School in 1979.[1] She was executive editor of the William and Mary Law Review, graduated first in her law school class and was awarded membership in the Order of the Coif.[2] In 1997, Judge Smith received The College of William and Mary Alumni Medallion, the highest award the William and Mary Alumni Association can bestow on a graduate of the College of William and Mary.[3]
Professional career
After earning her M.A. degree, Smith was a planning analyst for Enviro-Med, Inc. in
Federal judicial service
On August 4, 1989, President
Titanic artifacts decision
Premier Exhibitions Inc., the parent company of
Viagra patent decision
Just a few days before her decision in the Titanic artifacts case, Judge Smith upheld the validity of
Civic work
In addition to her professional work, Judge Smith has devoted much time to work with civic groups, professional associations, charities and educational institutions, including a term as President of the Alumni Association of The College of William and Mary.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rebecca Beach Smith at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- ^ a b c d e f g 'August 12, 2011 article on The College of William and Mary web site', retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ 'The William and Mary Alumni Association web site', retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c 'Norfolk Virginian-Pilot article, August 16, 2011, on court's final artifacts decision', retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ A year earlier, Judge Smith had ruled that RMS Titanic, Inc. was entitled to full compensation for the artifacts but she also reserved ruling on the details until a later date, which she noted could possibly be at least a year later due to the complexity of the matter, including the need to determine final preservation conditions for the artifacts and restrictions on their sale or disposition. 'New York Times August 14, 2010 article on court's 2010 artifacts decision', retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ a b c d 'Bloomberg News August 15, 2011 article on Viagra patent case decision' retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ 'The I'Anson-Hoffman American Inn of Court', retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ The WMU source states simply that Judge Smith was president of the Norfolk Academy but the Norfolk Academy web site lists her as President of the Board of Trustees between 2002 and 2005; this is the only "president" of the institution or an administrative body of the school which is shown on the web site 'Norfolk Academy web site, Board of Trustees', retrieved December 7, 2011.
External links
- Rebecca Beach Smith at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
- 'Bloomberg News August 15, 2011 article on Viagra patent case decision' retrieved December 5, 2011.
- 'The I'Anson-Hoffman American Inn of Court', retrieved December 7, 2011.
- 'Norfolk Virginian-Pilot article, August 16, 2011, on court's final artifacts decision', retrieved December 5, 2011.
- 'New York Times August 14, 2010 article on 2010 court artifacts decision', retrieved December 5, 2011.
- 'Norfolk Academy web site, Board of Trustees', retrieved December 7, 2011.
- 'August 12, 2011 article on The College of William and Mary web site', retrieved December 5, 2011.
- 'The William and Mary Alumni Association web site', retrieved December 7, 2011.