William C. Mims

Selection by Virginia’s General Assembly for Supreme Court service

Mims began hearing cases in April 2010 shortly after being formally invested as the 100th person to serve on the Supreme Court of Virginia, after prior service as chief deputy attorney general and attorney general. The sources describe him as having been elected to the Supreme Court in 2010, succeeding Justice Barbara Milano Keenan.

Awards and recognitions (Bridgewater honorary degree; Spong Award; Eagle Scout)

Mims received an honorary degree from Bridgewater College, the William B. Spong Award from William & Mary School of Law, and the Outstanding Eagle Scout Award from the National Association of Eagle Scouts.

Education: undergraduate and law degrees (plus LLM)

Mims attended the College of William & Mary (A.B./Bachelor’s) and received a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School. He also earned an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Legal/government practice and academic experience (before and alongside the bench)

Before joining the Supreme Court, Mims served as Chief Deputy Attorney General and Attorney General of Virginia (during 2009–2010), and previously served in the Virginia General Assembly (House of Delegates and Senate). He also practiced law privately (including civil litigation and business/real-estate matters) and later taught law courses: he was described as a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law at George Mason University (2002–2005). After taking senior status, he also worked at Christopher Newport University directing a pre-law program and teaching courses about the Constitution.

Supreme Court of Virginia term dates (and senior status)

William C. Mims served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia with a commencement date of 04/01/2010 and a term ending 03/31/2022. After that, he took senior status in 2022.