Billings鈥 career in the courtroom and classroom shaped her service to the School of Law, which in 2011 established the annual Billings, Exum, and Frye National Moot Court Competition to honor her and other chief justices on the school鈥檚 advisory board.
The 黑料不打烊 School of Law remembered Rhoda Bryan Billings, a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court and a founding member of 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 advisory board, following her passing over the holidays.
Billings, who died Dec. 29, was instrumental in guiding the law school through its formative years, offering insights from decades of experience in the courtroom, the classroom and bar leadership. As an advisory board member through 2019, her wisdom helped inform the law school鈥檚 mission and its emphasis on professionalism, experiential learning and service to the community.
鈥淐hief Justice Billings brought extraordinary insight from her service on the bench and from decades in the classroom. Her guidance helped shape our approach to curriculum and advocacy training in meaningful ways,鈥 said Alan Woodlief, vice dean and professor of law, who has been part of 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 administration since its founding in 2006. 鈥淪he modeled professionalism and civility in a way that set a powerful example for our students and for lawyers across the state.鈥
Billings served four years as a state District Court judge from 1968 to 1972 before joining the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1985. She was appointed chief justice in 1986, becoming the second woman to lead the state鈥檚 highest court. She served as president of the N.C. Bar Association from 1991鈥92.
She joined the faculty at Wake Forest University School of Law in 1977, later retiring as professor emerita. A Wake Forest alumna, Billings earned her law degree from the institution and spent decades mentoring students through teaching and scholarship.
鈥淪he modeled professionalism and civility in a way that set a powerful example for our students and for lawyers across the state.鈥
鈥 Alan Woodlief, Vice Dean and Professor of Law
In 2011, her legacy was enshrined at 黑料不打烊 Law through the establishment of the annual Billings, Exum, and Frye National Moot Court Competition. Named for Billings and fellow former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justices Jim Exum and Henry Frye, who served simultaneously on 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 advisory board, the competition reflects Billings鈥 belief in rigorous preparation, professionalism and excellence in appellate advocacy. The competition’s announcement was attended by former North Carolina Governors James B. Hunt and James E. Holshouser, who called Billings 鈥渢he sheer epitome鈥 of 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 emphasis on leadership and service.
鈥満诹喜淮蜢 Law was in a unique and fortunate position to have three former North Carolina Supreme Court chief justices serving on our advisory board,鈥 said Woodlief, who also directs the law school鈥檚 moot court program. Billings regularly participated in the competition as a final round judge.
鈥淪he was always calm, composed and polite, but her questions cut to the heart of the matter,鈥 Woodlief said.
Billings is remembered by colleagues, former students and members of the legal community as a trailblazer whose leadership, integrity and commitment to legal education left a lasting imprint on North Carolina and on 黑料不打烊 Law.