An Interview with David Pugh

Authors

David Pugh
Mary Gorham

Files

Interview Date

2-13-2025

Description

"I got to develop that, that passion for your job. And William & Mary indirectly helped me with that because I saw professors who had a passion for teaching and I say doggone, they’re here at the law school they have a passion. Well, I should have a passion if I’m going to be a lawyer." -- David Pugh

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Judge David Pugh was interviewed on February 13, 2025, in the William & Mary Media Center’s Production Studio. He begins the interview by describing his first experiences learning about the law as a person of color. Judge Pugh then reflects on his service in the US Army in Vietnam and how it motivated him to pursue law school as soon as he could. He recounts the process of being admitted to William & Mary Law School and his time as a student, including the friends and mentors that he met, but emphasizes that he got the most enjoyment out of practicing and being on the bench. He then highlights a few remarkable moments during his time as a litigator, as well as the tough decision-making he faced as a judge. Finally, he stresses the need for community and passion for your work to make an impact in the legal field.

Run Time

01:35:25

Comments

A transcript and guide to the oral history are available as additional files, above.

Use the CC button on the video to toggle captions on and off.

Keywords

Anne Forbes, W.C. Jefferson, Ronald Ricky Reiss, Wilford Taylor, James P. Whyte Jr., Class of 1973, African American lawyers, African American judges, Drug courts, Hampton University (Va.), Judges--Virginia, Law school community, Military to civilian life, Vietnam War 1961-1975

Local Identifier

OH.2025.001

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright for these materials has been transferred to the repository. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce for reasons not covered by fair use must be secured from the repository.

Recommended Citation

Pugh, David and Gorham, Mary, "An Interview with David Pugh" (2025). William & Mary Law School Oral Histories. 24.
https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/oralhist_all/24