Willis D. Miller

Who was Willis D. Miller?

Willis Dance Miller was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia from 1947 to 1960.

Miller was born in Powhatan County, Virginia. He attended public schools in Powhatan County and Randolph Macon Academy in Bedford. Later, he attended Richmond College, Washington and Lee University and the University of Richmond School of Law. In 1914, he received his degree, was admitted to the bar and started practice in Richmond, where he practiced until 1935. He was reviser of the Richmond City Code in 1924. From 1925 to 1936, he was Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond. In that position, he prosecuted all criminal cases arising on the south side of the James River. These cases were heard in the Manchester Courthouse. With the endorsement of the bar of the City of Richmond, he was selected by the General Assembly to serve as the judge of the Law and Equity Court of Richmond, succeeding Judge Robert N. Pollard, who had been appointed to the United States District Court. He rendered some 6000 decisions as judge of that court, and was reversed in only six. In 1947, he was appointed by Gov. William M. Tuck to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, the first Richmond lawyer or judge to serve on the state's highest court for more than 100 years. Justice Miller's retirement took effect on December 20, 1960, a few hours before his death on the same day. Justice Miller received an honorary LL. D. from the University of Richmond in 1951.