Moira Modzelewski

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Moira Modzelewski
Moira Modzelewski in 2013
Born
Moira Lee Dempsey[1]

(1958-05-30) 30 May 1958 (age 65)
Agana, Guam[2]
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BA, JD)
Naval Justice School
Occupation(s)lawyer, Captain (USN)
Known forPresiding over a Guantanamo military commission
Spouse
Stephen Anthony Modzelewski Jr.
​
​
(m. 1989)​
Children4

Moira Dempsey Modzelewski (born 30 May 1958)[2][3] is an American lawyer and former captain in the United States Navy.[4][5] Until her retirement in 2018,[6] she served as Chief Judge of the Navy and one of four assistant judge advocates general.[7] Modzelewski is notable for her appointment to serve as the Presiding Officer over Noor Uthman Muhammaed's Guantanamo military commission.

Education[edit]

education[4]
B.A. 1980 University of Virginia Chinese Studies
J.D. 1985 University of Virginia Law
1985 Naval Justice School Law

Teaching career[edit]

Modzelewski taught English at Szechuan University after earning her bachelor's degree, in 1980.[4]

In 1989 she was an assistant professor at the United States Naval Academy[4] and from 1995–96, she opened the detachment of the Naval Justice School in Norfolk.[4]

Legal career[edit]

Modzelewski has served a lawyer or administrator of legal services in over a half dozen posts with the U.S. Navy.[4]

In 2009 she presided over the courts-martial of Navy SEALs from SEAL Team 10 who were charged with beating an Iraqi captive.[8]

She was subsequently appointed to serve as a presiding officer in Guantanamo.[5] In April 2010 she predicted she would require a year to review the secret evidence against Noor Uthman Muhammaed.

Modzelewski joined the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals in 2011 and became its Chief Judge on 6 August 2013.[9] She was appointed Chief Judge of the Navy after the retirement of Christian L. Reismeier on 1 July 2015.[10]

Retiring from active duty in on 12 July 2018,[6] she was succeeded as Chief Judge of the Navy by Charles N. Purnell II.[11][12]

Personal[edit]

Modzelewski is the daughter of Navy physician John Joseph "Jack" Dempsey (26 June 1925 – 1 August 2004)[13] and retired Navy nurse Joan Louise Barron Dempsey (9 March 1926[14] – 20 January 2001).[1][2] She has three sisters and one brother.[13]

Modzelewski is married to retired Navy officer Stephen Anthony Modzelewski Jr.[15] They were married on 7 January 1989 in Norfolk, Virginia.[2] The couple have three sons and one daughter.[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Malone, Mandy (2001-01-21). "Joan Barron Dempsey". Daily Press. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  2. ^ a b c d "Marriage Return". No. 89–002555. Richmond, Virginia: Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health-Division of Vital Records. 10 January 1989.
  3. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1990-10-01. p. 330. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "CAPTAIN MOIRA MODZELEWSKI, JAGC, USN" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  5. ^ a b Carol Rosenberg (2010-04-08). "Judge says she needs year to sort through evidence". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2010-04-08.[dead link]
  6. ^ a b "180712-N-YP490-111". U.S. Navy JAG Corps. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  7. ^ "Organization". U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  8. ^ "2 SEALs arraigned in detainee abuse case". Military Learning Center. December 2009. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  9. ^ "Passing the Gavel, Investiture Ceremony". U.S. Navy JAG Corps. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  10. ^ "Promotion, Retirement of Chief Judge of the Navy". U.S. Navy JAG Corps. 8 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2017-07-28. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  11. ^ "181016-N-YP490-140". U.S. Navy JAG Corps. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  12. ^ "FY-18 U.S. Navy Assistant Judge Advocate General, Chief Judge Department of the Navy, and Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Navy Detailing Selection". U.S. Navy. January 2018. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  13. ^ a b "John Joseph (Jack) Dempsey". Daily Press. 2004-08-08. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  14. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps (PDF). Bureau of Naval Personnel. 1 January 1953. p. 391. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  15. ^ "PN673 — Navy". U.S. Congress. 1993-10-25. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  16. ^ "1980s Class Notes". UVA Lawyer. Fall 2005. Retrieved 2020-06-08.

External links[edit]

Media related to Moira D. Modzelewski at Wikimedia Commons

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