Just two days after Gov. Ralph Northam was disinvited from speaking at William & Mary’s Charter Day events, the university has announced who will take his place.
Virginia Supreme Court Justice William “Bill” C. Mims — also a William & Mary alumnus — will deliver the “Greetings from the Commonwealth” remarks at William & Mary’s Inauguration, Re-investiture and Charter Day Ceremony Friday, university spokeswoman Suzanne Clavet said.
Last Friday, one week ahead of William & Mary’s Charter Day, news reports published Northam’s medical school yearbook page, which prominently features a photo of two people, one in blackface and the other wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit.
Democrats, Republicans, organizations and a former vice president called for Northam’s resignation in the ensuing hours and days.
On Monday, William & Mary announced Northam would not be attending Charter Day. He was scheduled to deliver the “Greetings from the Commonwealth” during the event.
Clavet said the change in plans was a “mutual decision” between the governor’s office and William & Mary.
As of Wednesday morning, Northam had not resigned from the governor’s office.
Mims delivered the college’s convocation address in 2015. He was president of the student body during his senior year and returns to campus often, Clavet said.
The justice graduated from William & Mary in 1979, later receiving his juris doctor degree from George Washington University and master of laws degree also from Georgetown.
Mims was appointed to the Virginia Supreme Court in 2010, after serving as Virginia’s 45th attorney general.
He also served in multiple elected positions, including in the Virginia House of Delegates for the 32nd district from 1992 to 1998 and the Virginia Senate for the 33rd district from 1998 to 2006.
