Rhoda Billings
Encyclopedia
Rhoda Bryan Billings is an American lawyer
and a former justice
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
.
Billings earned her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law
in 1966. She served four years as a state District Court judge (1968–1972). Governor James G. Martin
, a fellow Republican, appointed her to the North Carolina Supreme Court
as an Associate Justice in 1985, after the resignation of Justice Earl Vaughn. When Chief Justice Joseph Branch
retired, Martin then appointed her Chief Justice in 1986, making her the second woman to head the Court. She was defeated by James G. Exum
in the election for chief justice in November of that year.
Justice Billings became a law professor at Wake Forest University, retiring in 2003. Today titled Professor Emeritus, Billings was named in 2008 to the National Committee on the Right to Counsel established by the Constitution Project
of Georgetown University
’s Public Policy Institute and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and a former justice
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
.
Billings earned her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law
The Wake Forest University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Wake Forest University. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest University School of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American...
in 1966. She served four years as a state District Court judge (1968–1972). Governor James G. Martin
James G. Martin
James Grubbs "Jim" Martin is the 70th Governor of the state of North Carolina. He served from 1985 to 1993. He was the second Republican elected to the office after Reconstruction, and the fifth overall. He is also the only Republican to serve two full terms as governor.-Early Life &...
, a fellow Republican, appointed her to the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
as an Associate Justice in 1985, after the resignation of Justice Earl Vaughn. When Chief Justice Joseph Branch
Joseph Branch
Joseph Branch was an American jurist who served as Associate Justice and then Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. He was a native of Halifax County, North Carolina and earned his law degree from Wake Forest University.Branch served in the state House of Representatives from 1947...
retired, Martin then appointed her Chief Justice in 1986, making her the second woman to head the Court. She was defeated by James G. Exum
James G. Exum
James G. 'Jim' Exum, Jr. is an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice and Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.After earning his law degree at the New York University School of Law, Exum clerked for North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Emery B. Denny...
in the election for chief justice in November of that year.
Justice Billings became a law professor at Wake Forest University, retiring in 2003. Today titled Professor Emeritus, Billings was named in 2008 to the National Committee on the Right to Counsel established by the Constitution Project
Constitution Project
The Constitution Project is an non-profit think tank in the United States that builds bipartisan consensus on significant constitutional and legal questions. Founded and led by Virginia Sloan, the Constitution Project’s work is divided between two programs: the Rule of Law Program and the Criminal...
of Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
’s Public Policy Institute and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.