Moira Modzelewski

Last updated
Moira Modzelewski
Moira D. Modzelewski.jpg
Moira Modzelewski in 2013
Born
Moira Lee Dempsey [1]

(1958-05-30) 30 May 1958 (age 65)
Agana, Guam [2]
NationalityAmerican
Education University 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.

Contents

Education

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

Teaching career

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]

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

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]

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References

  1. 1 2 Malone, Mandy (2001-01-21). "Joan Barron Dempsey". Daily Press. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. 1 2 Carol Rosenberg (2010-04-08). "Judge says she needs year to sort through evidence". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
  6. 1 2 "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. 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. 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. 1 2 "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.

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