Rhoda Bryan Billings (born September 30, 1937) is an American lawyer and a formerjustice of theNorth Carolina Supreme Court.^[1]

Billings is a native ofWilkesboro, North Carolina.^[2] She earned herJuris Doctor degree fromWake Forest University School of Law in 1966. She served four years as a state District Court judge (1968–1972).^[3] From 1982 to 1984 Billings served on the Board of Governors of theNorth Carolina Bar Association.^[2] GovernorJames G. Martin, a fellow Republican, appointed her to theNorth Carolina Supreme Court as an associate justice in 1985, after the resignation of JusticeEarl W. Vaughn. When Chief JusticeJoseph Branch retired, Martin then appointed her Chief Justice in 1986, making her the second woman to head the Court.^[3] She was defeated byJames G. Exum in the election for chief justice in November of that year.

Justice Billings became a law professor at Wake Forest University, retiring in 2003^[4] as Professor Emeritus. Billings was named in 2008 to the National Committee on the Right to Counsel established by theConstitution Project ofGeorgetown University's Public Policy Institute and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.^[5]

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