Oil on canvas, by Jean Garver, 1999
Location: courtroom, right

Born 1951 in Pennington Gap, Virginia

Appointed by Governor George Allen on May 2, 1997, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Roscoe Bolar Stephenson and began her service on July 8, 1997. First elected by the General Assembly on January 30, 1998, to a 12-year term beginning February 1, 1998. Service terminated by retirement.

Elected chief justice on August 31, 2010, to succeed Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr., and began her term on February 1, 2011. Service terminated by retirement.

Other judicial service:
Law clerk, Honorable Glen M. Williams, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, 1977-1978
Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, 1990-1997

Education:
University of Georgia, 1970-1971
University of Tennessee, B.A., 1974
University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1977

Professional career:
Private practice, Jonesville, 1978-1979
Private practice, Pennington Gap, 1979-1980; 1984-1990
Commonwealth’s attorney, Lee County, 1980-1984

Further reading/Research collections

Sources:
Appointed, Jeff E. Schapiro, “Kinser Gets Nod from Allen,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 3, 1997, B9; sworn in on July 8, 1997, 254 Va., v; first elected to a regular 12-year term, Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 1998 Regular Session, 461; elected chief justice, Alan Cooper, “Kinser Selected to be Next Chief Justice,” Virginia Lawyers Weekly, September 6, 2010 (Vol. 25, No. 14), 1; sworn in as chief justice, 281 Va., v; oath, ix; investiture as chief justice, xi-xxiv; birth, education, and career, biographical file, Virginia State Law Library.