William Carrington Thompson (November 6, 1915 – June 11, 2011) was an American jurist and politician.

Early and Family Life

Thompson was born in

Chatham, Virginia Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. It is the county seat of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Pittsylvania County. Chatham's population was 1,269 at the 2010 census. It is included in the ...

. He attended

Hampden-Sydney College Hampden Sydney is a census-designated place (CDP) in Prince Edward County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,450 at the 2010 census. Hampden Sydney is the home of Hampden–Sydney College, a private all-male college that is the tenth- ...

and graduated in 1935. He received his law degree from the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...

Law School in 1938 and was admitted to the bar the same year. During World War II, Thompson served in the U.S. Navy, at various times patrolling the Eastern shore and in the Pacific Ocean.

Legal and political career

Upon returning to civilian life, Thompson returned to his job as assistant attorney general, then was elected Commonwealth's Attorney for

Pittsylvania County, Virginia Pittsylvania County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 60,501. Chatham is the county seat. Pittsylvania County is included in the Danville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Ar ...

, where he served from 1948 until 1955. In 1959, Thompson won election to the House of Delegates, serving as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

representing Danville and Pittsylvania County. He was elected . In to the

Senate of Virginia The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the lieutenant governor of Virg ...

in 1967, and served until 1972.

Judicial career

The General Assembly elected a him as judge for the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit in 1973, and he heard cases in Danville as well as Franklin and Pittsylvania Counties. After Justice Alexander Harman retired, the General Assembly elected Judge Thompson to the

Supreme Court of Virginia The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It primarily hears direct appeals in civil cases from the trial-level city and county circuit courts, as well as the criminal law, family law and administrative ...

, effective February 1, 1980. Justice Thompson retired from active service on the Court three years later, and was succeeded by Justice

John Charles Thomas John Charles Thomas (September 6, 1891December 13, 1960) was an American opera, operetta and concert baritone. Biography John Charles Thomas was born on September 6, 1891 in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. He was the son of a Methodist minister of ...

Death and legacy

Justice Thompson died at his home in Chatham on June 11, 2011.

References

1915 births 2011 deaths People from Chatham, Virginia Democratic Party Virginia state senators Democratic Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates Justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia Virginia lawyers Hampden–Sydney College alumni University of Virginia School of Law alumni 20th-century American judges 20th-century American lawyers Virginia circuit court judges {{Virginia-VASenate-stub