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V
irginia
C
apitol
C
onnections
, W
inter
2016
6
“I have a memory of that if someone is a lawyer, they can
help people, and I wanted to help people. Becoming a lawyer was
a possibility in my far distant future. I also considered becoming a
high school history teacher, and I also considered going to seminary.
Ultimately, I decided to pursue to law. I’m sure that my teenage view
was naïve; most teenagers are naive,” Mims said.
We both chuckled at that last comment, and I was taken back to
my teenage dreams and the idealism that has simultaneously pushed
me to be a better person and left me disappointed when I haven’t
reached my goals. But Mims said that he had great moments of
satisfaction in law, especially when he was able to guide individuals
or small companies through the complexities of the legal system.
“I tell young law students now that a lawyer really in many ways
holds the keys to the kingdom in a highly regulated society. Lawyers
are the ones that can help others find a safe path through difficult
circumstances,” Mims said.
Before I called Justice Bill Mims, I
created a quiet place in the floor of my
grandparents’ spare bedroom, using the
rollaway bed as a table and hoping no one
would burst in to ask me if I wanted to
play chess.
“Hi, is this Mr. Mims?” As soon as
the words leave my mouth I’m berating myself because I think I’m
supposed to address him as “Justice Mims.”
“You must be Lydia.”
“Yes, sir. I’m excited to talk with you.”
And I dove in to my questions, completely forgetting my
customary speech where I preview my questions and explain my
interview style. I’d been on the phone with this man for twenty
seconds and I was already asking him how his “intense focus on the
values of service and justice were instilled.”
But Justice Mims rolled with it.
“The service aspect really was instilled when I was a boy,” he
began. “My father—my entire family—were ones who,” he paused.
“I am the youngest of four children—so my earliest memories are
of my family serving others in the community. I came to faith, I
began to follow Jesus when I was fifteen years old, my faith also
instructs service to others as our highest calling. It has really become
ingrained.”
I pried into the comment on his family, wanting to know what
example they had set. I wanted the story. He shared about his sister,
Diane, and her service to disabled young people in her own youth.
He shared about his mother’s service to the church and his father’s
to the community. How they didn’t push him to serve, but provided a
powerful example of service.
Mims decided on law because he felt like it was a career in which
he could do the most good. When I asked him about it, he said he
didn’t know how he came to that realization, but he’d believed it
since he was a young teen.
Bill Mims:
Justice, Senator,
Delegate
By Lydia Freeman