Samuel Bernard Goodwyn (born February 23, 1961) is the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
[1] A Southampton County native, Goodwyn graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in economics in 1983.
[2] He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia’s School of Law in 1986, where he was an editor for the Virginia Tax Review, a member of the Raven Society, and received the Ritter Award for honor, character and integrity.
[2] On October 10, 2007, Goodwyn was appointed to the Supreme Court of Virginia by Governor Tim Kaine to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Elizabeth B.
[3] In the 2008 session of the Virginia General Assembly, a political standoff between the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House of Delegates resulted in Goodwyn's nomination being put on hold until February 8, 2008, the day the pro tempore appointment would have expired.