Judith Welch Wegner
February 14, 1950 - December 3, 2021
Nantucket, Massachusetts - Judith Welch Wegner died on December 3, 2021 after a short illness. She is survived by Warren, her husband of nearly 50 years; a brother, a sister, sister-in-law, two nieces, three nephews and numerous friends. She was 71. She and her husband had moved to Nantucket, Massachusetts following her 2016 retirement as a faculty member at UNC School of Law.
Wegner joined the law school faculty in 1981. She served as dean from 1989-99, contributing in numerous ways to the welfare of the law school, including hiring diverse faculty and staff, implementing an externship program, reforming the curriculum, securing funds for and constructing a major law school building addition, and strengthening ties with alumni and the campus at large. She supported the development of the UNC Festival of Legal Learning (a major continuing education program) and served as director of the program for many years until her retirement. In addition, Wegner served as president of the Association of American Law Schools (1995) and as a senior scholar with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (where she was co-author of Educating Lawyers, published in 2007). She also served the campus and UNC System, first as elected chair of the UNC Chapel Hill faculty (2003-2006) and later as chair of the Faculty Assembly representing all UNC system campuses (2008-2010).
In addition to focusing on innovative legal education, Wegner's scholarship centered on state and local government law (including a standard text, State and Local Government in a Federal System, in numerous editions). She was the recipient of the Ernest Ball award for excellence in municipal law from the North Carolina municipal lawyers. Wegner also served on numerous local elected and appointed committees and state legislative committees including the Carrboro Town Council, Orange County Planning Board, and General Statutes Commission. She took special pride in mentoring students and colleagues involved in the field of municipal law. At the time of her death, she was active as Chair of the elected Nantucket Planning Board, as a consultant on legal education for the Law School Admissions Council, and as a founding member of the Collaboratory on Legal Education and Licensing for Practice, a group of legal scholars working for more effective and equitable attorney licensing
Wegner was born in Windsor, CT in 1950, and attended public schools there. She received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) in 1972 (phi beta kappa), and her law degree from UCLA in 1996 (order of the coif). Prior to joining the UNC Law faculty, she worked in Washington, D.C. as an attorney in the Department of Justice and as a Special Assistant to the United States Secretary of Education. She asks that contributions in her honor be made to the UNC School of Government Foundation

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Published by & from Dec. 7 to Dec. 11, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Judith Wegner

Sponsored by Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Marstons Mills.

16 Entries

Gregg Schwitzgebel (RA '90-92)

Planted Trees

Rocco Ceo

June 3, 2023

It is with great sadness I only now hear of Judith´s passing and I am heart broken. I served with her on the NAAB Board for a few years and was always impressed by her clarity of thought, tremendous humanity and sharp judgement. With all of that came a warm heart and a devotion to serve the community. She will always be for me a role model for us all....My deepest sympathy for her family and friends. -Rocco Ceo

Phil Johnston

April 8, 2022

I, like many others, am saddened by Judith's sudden death. As the author of TRUE SOUTH: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM POLAR EXTREMES and UNC Law board member during the administrations of five deans, I remember Judith's incredible leadership. Student-centric leadership was not in the lexicon, but she had the vision to entrust students with the responsibility for their own learning experience to make their learning sticky. Her greatest quality was her true compassion for the humanism of all students, unique in her era.
Such a legacy to our law school!
Phil Johnston, JD MBA

Kevin DeCramer

January 6, 2022

Warren: I am saddened to learn of Judith's passing. I hope you are doing well. Sincerely, Kevin DeCramer

Chris Martens

December 19, 2021

The news of Judith Wegner's loss is numbing. Her leadership across the University and in the communities where she lived was exceptional: well-informed, personal and generous. I sought and acted upon advice from Judith about my own academic decisions because of her vision, incisive thinking, kindness and honesty.
Such leaders are crucial for the success of most of us so her loss leaves a hole in my heart. Thank you, Judith and Warren, for sharing your thoughts, good humor and even your home (and little car!) on Nantuckett.

Rob Gelblum

December 15, 2021

I'm shocked and saddened, and can't stand this news. Still grappling with it; that's why it's taken me a week to post. I've only been meaning to touch base with Judith for a thousand years since our last contact. We shared a deep love for Nantucket, among many other things. What a professor; what a human. So sorry for your loss, Warren.

B. F. Melton

December 11, 2021

I was shocked and saddened to hear of Dean Wegner's death. I last spoke to her about a year ago, but when I was a student and a clinician at UNC in the '90s and '00s, she was both mentor and good friend. Her impact on the school is indelible, and she will be missed.

Carole Silver

December 11, 2021

Judith was an important and deeply valued colleague and friend in the world of legal education. She was generous, supportive, wise and beyond thoughtful. I am very sorry to learn of her death and will miss her, and send my condolences.

The Crisp Family

December 9, 2021

Warren, your Fayetteville family is ready to provide you Amy support you need.

The Crisps

Sent Flowers

Sherri Zann Rosenthal

December 8, 2021

The news of Judith's passing is a sharp pain. Like many, I made municipal law a career in large measure due to her mentoring. How could someone who contributed so much in so many arenas make herself so available to students, friends and colleagues? She was such an emotionally generous soul. With large measures of patience, persistence and politely pointed clarity, Judith made an impact for the better in every endeavor. My deepest condolences to Warren and the rest of her family.

Ron Swanstrom

December 8, 2021

Hi Warren,
This is such sad news. You may remember your first neighbors just down the hill when we lived in Carrborro in the early 80s (Stephanie and Ron). I remember walking around the neighborhood handing out literature when Judith ran for office. I didn't really see her on campus (I run a lab in the med school) but every time I saw her name I took pride in knowing her. I won't pretend that I knew her well but it doesn't take much to see that she led a life that made a difference.

Sincerely,

Ron

Dave Miller

December 8, 2021

Judith and Warren provided a home and love for several 'orphans' at UCLA, myself included, and I have always been grateful for their companionship and support, as well as a good meal now and then! Her passing far too early is tragic.

Nancy Byerly Jones

December 7, 2021

Judith made a tremendously positive and lasting impact on my law school years and beyond on so many levels. I started at UNC Law in 1985 at the ripe old age of 35 with a family that included 3 school age sons - Judith first and foremost was one of the first of the wonderful faculty to ease my concerns over being so "old" in a time when the average law student was not a parent and their age was far below mine. She was actually a year younger than I was and yet she was far wiser than her years on so many levels including as a mentor, genuinely caring supporter and motivator and professor to so many. My respect for Judith Wegner is beyond measure. To her family - thank you for sharing such a beautiful soul with all of us privileged and blessed to walk a part of our journeys with Judith's guidance, shared strength and support. Thank you, Judith - you will forever continue to inspire and be loved by me and countless others.

Sandie Gravett

December 7, 2021

My condolences to her family. I know her memory will continue to be a blessing for many. She was an exceptional mentor and friend.

Roz Fuse-Hall

December 6, 2021

I am so sad with this news. Judith was a genuine friend, supporter and intellect extraordinaire, although she´d never say that about herself. Rest in power my friend you lived multiple lives during your time with us, enriching each one.

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