James R. Spencer

For other people named James Spencer, see James Spencer (disambiguation).

James Randolph Spencer (born 1949) is a former United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

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) Florence, South Carolina
Education	Clark College (BA) Harvard University (JD) Howard University (MDiv)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1975-1978, 1981-1986
Rank	Captain
Unit	J.A.G. Corps

Early life and education

He was born in Florence, South Carolina in 1949 and attended Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971. He earned Juris Doctor in 1974 at Harvard Law School.^[1] After Harvard, he was commissioned as a captain in the 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 Ronald Reagan on September 9, 1986, to the a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 8, 1986, and received his commission on October 14, 1986. He was the first 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 Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell who were convicted of federal corruption charges.^[2][3] The Supreme Court ruled on the certiorari granted in relation to 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

1. James R. Spencer at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. Helderman, Rosalind (January 21, 2014). "Former Va. Gov. McDonnell and wife charged in gifts case". The Washington Post.
3. Zapotsky, Matt (5 September 2014). "Robert McDonnell Guilty of 11 Corruption Counts". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
4. 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.

Legal offices
Preceded by John Ashton MacKenzie	Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia 1986–2014	Succeeded by M. Hannah Lauck
Preceded by Claude M. Hilton	Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia 2004–2011	Succeeded by Rebecca Beach Smith