2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 26
Commending the Honorable S. Bernard Goodwyn.
Agreed to by the Senate, January 29, 2026
WHEREAS, the Honorable S. Bernard Goodwyn concluded his service as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia on December 31, 2025, leaving a legacy defined by professionalism, thoughtful reform, and an unwavering devotion to the rule of law; and
WHEREAS, Bernard Goodwyn grew up in Southampton County and was a multisport athlete, a concert band saxophone player, class president, and valedictorian at Southampton High School, distinguishing himself from a young age through his discipline, dedication to scholarship, and commitment to excellence in all his pursuits; and
WHEREAS, Bernard Goodwyn continued his education at Harvard University, from which he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in economics, then received his juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a member of the Raven Society, editor of the Virginia Tax Review , and recipient of the prestigious Ritter Award; and
WHEREAS, before beginning his judicial service, Bernard Goodwyn practiced law with the firms McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe in Charlottesville and Willcox & Savage in Norfolk, where he became a partner in 1992; he served as an associate professor of the University of Virginia School of Law from 1994 to 1995, sharing his commitment to legal excellence with future jurists; and
WHEREAS, Bernard Goodwyn served the Commonwealth with distinction at every level of its judiciary, beginning as a judge of the Chesapeake General District Court in the First Judicial District of Virginia, followed by 10 years as a judge of the Chesapeake Circuit Court in the First Judicial Circuit of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Bernard Goodwyn was appointed by Governor Timothy M. Kaine as a justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia in 2007, then was unanimously elected to a full 12-year term by the General Assembly in 2008 and again in 2020; and