Edward W. Hudgins Explained

Edward W. Hudgins
Office:19th Chief Justice of Virginia
Term Start:October 5, 1947
Term End:July 29, 1958
Predecessor:Henry W. Holt
Successor:John W. Eggleston
Office2:Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia
Term Start2:February 1, 1930
Term End2:July 29, 1958
Predecessor2:None (seat created)
Successor2:Lawrence W. I'Anson
Office3:Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Mecklenburg County
Term Start3:January 12, 1916
Term End3:January 14, 1920
Predecessor3:John T. Lewis
Successor3:Robert L. Jeffreys
Birth Name:Edward Wren Hudgins
Birth Date:17 January 1882
Death Place:Chase City, Virginia, U.S.
Alma Mater:University of Richmond
Spouse:Lucy Henry Morton

Edward Wren Hudgins (January 17, 1882 – July 29, 1958) was a Virginia lawyer, political figure and judge. From 1947 to 1958, he served as the 19th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia.[1]

Biography

Hudgins was born in Buckingham County, Virginia. He received his education from private tutors and public schools of his home county. At seventeen, he went to Richmond to go to college. He entered Richmond College (now University of Richmond) graduating in 1905 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. For the next year, he was the principal of a public high school and, in the fall of 1906, he entered T. C. Williams Law School at Richmond College, receiving his law degree in 1908.[2] In order to supplement his funds while attending law school, he taught Latin in Miss Ellett's School in Richmond (now St. Catherine’s). In 1908, Judge Hudgins began his practice in Chase City, Mecklenburg County, and, in 1916, was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from that county, serving until 1920. He was elected judge of the Thirty-Fourth Judicial Circuit in 1926. Just four years later, on January 17, 1930, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals, the membership of the court being increased at that time from five to seven justices. Seventeen years later, in 1947, he became Chief Justice and served on the court until his death. Justice Hudgins was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Alpha Delta.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Judges of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Encyclopediavirginia.org. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. 10 October 2016.
  2. Web site: Edward Wren Hudgins. Vcdh.virginia.edu. University of Virginia. 10 October 2016.