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.