Author: Lawrence L. Koontz, Jr.
Born: 25 January 1940
Bio: Lawrence Larkins Koontz, Jr. was born January 25, 1940, in Roanoke, Virginia. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he received a B.S. in Biology and was a member of the Corps of Cadets. He received his law degree from University of Richmond School of Law. 

Elected by the Virginia General Assembly to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1995, Justice Koontz served as an active member of that Court for more than 17 years. Prior to his election as a Justice, he was an original member of the Virginia Court of Appeals, serving as its second Chief Judge for two four year terms following the death of Chief Judge E. Ballard Baker a few months after the Court was created. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals, Justice Koontz served as a judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia and the Roanoke Juvenile Court. 

On February 1, 2011, Justice Koontz retired from active service on the Supreme Court after more than four decades of service to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He will continue to sit as a Senior Justice of the Court.  He is married to Prof. Eberle L. Smith and is a proud father and grandfather.  He resides in Salem, Virginia.