James R. Spencer
Encyclopedia
James Randolph Spencer was born in Florence, South Carolina
in 1949. He attended Clark College
in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1971. He later attended Harvard Law School
, where he received his Juris Doctor
in 1974.
After Harvard, he was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Army JAG Corps. He served in that capacity from 1975 until 1978. After being Honorably Discharged from the active duty, he took a job as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, serving there from 1978 until 1983. He also was recommissioned in the U.S. Army Reserves, serving as a Military Judge from 1981 until 1986. From 1983 until 1986, he served as an Assistant United States District Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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.
In 1985, Judge Spencer earned a master of divinity
degree from Howard University
.
In 2004 Judge Spencer became Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Florence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
in 1949. He attended Clark College
Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University...
in Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1971. He later attended Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, where he received his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1974.
After Harvard, he was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Army JAG Corps. He served in that capacity from 1975 until 1978. After being Honorably Discharged from the active duty, he took a job as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, serving there from 1978 until 1983. He also was recommissioned in the U.S. Army Reserves, serving as a Military Judge from 1981 until 1986. From 1983 until 1986, he served as an Assistant United States District Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
James R. Spencer was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
on September 9, 1986 to the a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is one of two United States district courts serving the Commonwealth 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
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to be nominated to this position in this district.
In 1985, Judge Spencer earned a master of divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
.
In 2004 Judge Spencer became Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Virginia.