Robert G. Doumar

Robert George Doumar (February 17, 1930 – November 4, 2023) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Early life, education, and career Doumar's father, George Doumar , was from Syria and immigrated to America in 1901. His mother Margot came from what is now Lebanon later in an arranged marriage. Both were Arabic-speaking Christians and both became U.S. citizens. The family-owned eatery, Doumar's, in Norfolk, Virginia still exists there, and features curb service, homemade barbecue, and handmade ice cream cones. The Doumar family credits Doumar's uncle, Abe Doumar, with inventing the ice cream cone, although Abe's nephew Albert conceded, "There were 40 ice cream stands in the World's Fair and all of them claim they invented the ice cream cone."

Born in Norfolk, Doumar received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia in 1951 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1953. He was in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 as a lawyer, and was in private practice in Norfolk from 1955 to 1981. Doumar was Norfolk city chairman of the Republican Party during 1957–63 and 1966–74. Doumar ran, unsuccessfully, as a Republican for the Virginia House of Delegates in 1959 and 1961. He also lost a state Senate bid in 1967. According to Doumar, he played a major role in every Republican campaign in Norfolk since 1957. Doumar died on November 4, 2023, at the age of 93.

Federal judicial service As a delegate to three Republican national conventions, Doumar met California Governor Ronald Reagan, with whom he shared a skepticism about government and an admiration for individual rights. After Reagan won the White House, Senator John Warner, a law school classmate, sponsored Doumar for the bench. On November 5, 1981, President Reagan nominated Doumar to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia vacated by Judge Richard Boykin Kellam. Doumar was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 3, 1981, and received his commission the same day. He received a Master of Laws from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1988, and assumed senior status on April 30, 1996. In 2017, Doumar stated from the bench that child porn producers should be "shot." In an interview with The Virginian-Pilot, he confirmed "I said it. I said that they should be shot."

According to press reports, during the hearing "ne appeals court judge expressed incredulity at Doumar's misstatement of federal sentencing rules during Martinovich's sentencing hearing" and "nother said the judge's frequent interruptions of Martinovich's defense reminded him of another case two years ago."

The ABA Journal reported on the Fourth Circuit's opinion in Martinovich in a 13 January 2016 article: "Federal judge crossed the line with imprudent comments and trial interruptions, 4th Circuit says."

On April 19, 2016, the Fourth Circuit also reversed Doumar's dismissal in G. G. v. Gloucester County School Board as to a transgender boy's Title IX claim. Doumar's opinion stated as to Title IX: "the Department of Education's interpretation [of Section 106.33] should not be given controlling weight". Doumar's opinion as to a motion for a preliminary injunction stated: "The School Board contends that granting the preliminary injunction and allowing G.G. to use the male restroom would endanger the safety and privacy of other students" and "G.G.'s unsupported claims, which are mostly inadmissible hearsay, fail to show that his presence in the male restroom would not infringe upon the privacy of other students". The Fourth Circuit rejected both of these assertions, concluding that "the record is devoid of any evidence tending to show that G.G.’s use of the boys’ restroom creates a safety issue," and that Doumar "abused [his] discretion when [he] denied G.G.’s request for a preliminary injunction without considering G.G.’s proffered evidence." "I am worried about where we are going," Doumar declared. "Maybe I am just old-fashioned. . . . Where the U.S is going scares me. It really scares me."