Armistead Mason Dobie

Armistead Mason Dobie
Armistead M. Dobie in military uniform, 1917-1919
Born	(1881-04-15)April 15, 1881 Norfolk, Virginia
Died	August 7, 1962(1962-08-07) (aged 81) Charlottesville, Virginia
Occupation	Law professor, federal judge, Dean

Armistead Mason Dobie (April 15, 1881 – August 7, 1962) was a law professor, Dean of the University of Virginia School of Law, and United States federal judge.

A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Dobie received a B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1901, an M.A. from the same institution in 1902, and an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1904. He was in private practice in St. Louis, Missouri from 1904 to 1907, becoming an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1907, and a full professor in 1909.

Dobie served in France as assistant chief of staff of the 80th Division of the United States Army during World War I, from 1917 to 1919. Aside from this interruption, he served as law professor at the University of Virginia School of Law from 1909 to 1939, and was dean of the law school from 1932 to 1939. Dobie "is credited with first introducing the case method of instruction to Virginia." He was widely published on a variety of legal and non-legal topics, and was an expert on federal court jurisdiction, and a member of the original drafting committee of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

In his years at the University, Dobie was an enthusiastic and inspirational figure: "Judge Dobie's lectures became public events at the University. His annual Easter lecture became known as the 'Dobie lecture,' and law students often brought dates to the event to hear the master orator working his unique magic with the English language. . . . Judge Dobie had a remarkable spirit and tirelessly involved himself in the events of the University. For instance, Judge Dobie often gave pep talks to the football team before its Homecoming games."