Judge Robert George Doumar

1930 - 2023

On November 4, 2023, United States District Court Judge Robert George Doumar died in his ninety-third year, concluding an extraordinary life. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia in 1981, where he served for over 40 years.

Robert George Doumar was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 17, 1930, to immigrants George and Margot Doumar, natives of Syria and Lebanon. He had two brothers, Albert and Victor, who predeceased him. His Father, George Joseph Doumar, was naturalized in 1920 as a United States citizen in the very Court in which Judge Doumar later presided. Bob is survived by his wife, the former Dorothy Ann Mundy of Tappahannock, Virginia. They have two sons, Robert Jr. and his wife, Noelle, and Charles and his wife, Dahlia, and six grandchildren, Robert III, Nathalie, Margot, Isabelle, Chloe, and David.

Bob graduated from Holy Trinity High School in Norfolk, Virginia, as Valedictorian; as a young man, Bob worked in the family business, Doumar's Cones and Barbecue. Despite his distinguished career in law, Bob was often recognized more for his association with Doumar's Cones and Barbecue. Bob attended the University of Virginia where he was a brilliant student, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Juris Doctor degree, and later a Master of Law degree. He lived on East Lawn and Pavilion 8 during his last three years of college, and all three years of law school. As a student, he distinguished himself as a member of the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review, a member of the Order of the Coif, and the Raven Society. He represented the University in the National Moot Court competition, winning Regional Championships and performing strongly in the National Championships. He was a member of the DU undergraduate fraternity at Virginia, and the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity while attending law school.

Judge Doumar served in the United States Army between 1953 - 1955; he served in the Korean Conflict as First Lieutenant and later in the Reserves as Major. While in Korea, and remarkably in his early twenties, he successfully defended and prosecuted murder cases as lead counsel throughout Korea's Communications and Combat Zones, in addition to his membership of the Transportation Corps, serving on the staff of the Third Transportation Military Railway Command in Seoul.

In November 1958, he founded the law firm of Doumar, Pincus, and Anderson, with Harry Pincus, Jr., and Joseph Anderson, later adding 20 additional Partners or Associates. The firm was the forerunner to the present firm of Clarke, Dolph, Hull & Brunick, PLC. Bob practiced law in the city of Norfolk for over 20 years prior to becoming a Judge and was active in civic activities. He started the Tidewater Legal Aid Society and served as its first President for two years. He was President of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association, a member of the State Council of The Virginia Bar Association, and served as Chairman of the Board of the Virginia Conference of Local Bar Associations. He frequently lectured for continuing legal education classes throughout the state. Additionally, he was the President of The I'Anson-Hoffman American Inn of Court.

He received the Brotherhood Award bestowed by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Outstanding Citizen Award bestowed by the Knights of Columbus Council 367, Outstanding Citizen Award with the Sons and Daughters of Lebanon, and the RUMI Forum Peace and Dialogue Award.

Judge Doumar's non-law memberships included, at one time or another, the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, the E.R. of the Elks Lodge No. 38, The Rotary Club, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Civitan Club, and many other civic and charitable organizations.

Active in politics, he was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1968, 1972, and 1976. His interests were many, including sailing, business, dancing, bridge, travel, poetry, and golf; distinguished by a hearty laugh, a unique whistle, and a photographic memory.

As an active Judge for over 40 years, he was a teacher and mentor to approximately 80 law clerks with whom he established close relationships, rejoicing in their successes. As a District Judge, Judge Doumar took Senior Status on May 1, 1996, but continued to sit as a regular Federal District Court Judge, during which time he was engaged in many notable decisions. He was a lawyer's lawyer, a champion of due process, with a deep interest in constitutional rights. With a legacy of important cases, the case of Yaser Esam Hamdi was perhaps the most significant; his ruling in the Hamdi case was reversed by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States later vacated the 4th Circuit's reversal. Today, the Hamdi case has become a staple of constitutional law as taught in U.S. law schools.

In his formal opinion, he wrote the following:

"We must protect the freedoms of even those who hate us, and that we may find objectionable. If we fail in this task, we become victims of the precedents we create […] We must preserve the rights afforded to us by our Constitution and the laws for without them we return to the chaos of a rule of men and not of laws."

A funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Norfolk. Burial will be private. There will be a visitation at the Norfolk Chapel of H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments on Wednesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the following: The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, 800 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23504; The Virginia Opera Association, PO Box 2580, Norfolk, VA 23501; or Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 520 Graydon Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23507.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com