Virginia. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia was created by an act of the new General Assembly in 1779. By Constitutional amendment in 1928, the number of justices was increased from five to seven and the title of the presiding officer of the Court was changed from President to Chief Justice. At the same time, the amendment significantly increased the power given the Supreme Court by permitting the Court to prescribe forms and to regulate the practice of Virginia's courts. The Constitution of 1971 changed the name of the Court to its present title of Supreme Court of Virginia.

From the guide to the Supreme Court of Virginia Photographs, 1981-2000, circa; 2004, 1981-2000, circa; 2004, (Supreme Court of Virginia Archives, Virginia State Law Library)

Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr. (1955-2011) was appointed to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1989. He was elected to a four-year term as Chief Justice in 2003 and reelected in 2007 and served until his death in February 2011. He was born in Norfolk and earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a JD from Harvard University. Hassell was the first African American to serve as chief justice on the court.

From the guide to the Remembrances of Chief Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr., May-August, 2011, (Supreme Court of Virginia Archives, Virginia State Law Library)

The Court of Appeals of Virginia was established January 1, 1985. It provides appellate review of final decisions of the circuit courts in domestic relations matters, appeals from decisions of an administrative agency, traffic infractions and criminal cases, except where a sentence of death has been imposed. It also hears appeals of final decisions of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. Except in those cases where the decision of the Court of Appeals is final, any party aggrieved by a decision of the Court of Appeals may petition the Supreme Court for an appeal. The Court of Appeals consists of eleven judges. The court sits in panels of at least three judges, and the membership of the panels is rotated. The court sits at such locations as the chief judge designates, so as to provide convenient access to the various geographic areas of the Commonwealth.

James W. Benton, Jr. (b. 1944) was appointed to the Court of Appeals of Virginia in 1985 and retired in 2007. A native of Norfolk, Benton attended public schools there and participated in civil rights demonstrations while he was in high school. He earned an undergraduate degree from Temple University in Boston and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He worked for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in Richmond and was a partner at the Richmond law firm of Hill, Tucker Marsh.

Johanna L. Fitzpatrick (b. 1946) served on the Court of Appeals of Virginia from 1992 to 2006. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, she attended Tufts University in Boston and earned a law degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She began working for Fairfax Legal Aid Society in 1974. In 1980, she was elected Juvenile and Domestic Relations judge in Fairfax County, making her the second woman elected judge in Virginia. In 1982, Fitzpatrick was elected circuit court judge in Fairfax County.

James W. Haley, Jr. (b. 1942) served on the Court of Appeals of Virginia from 2005 to 2012, when he took senior status. He was born in Washington, DC and reared in Arlington. Haley attended Washington and Lee University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He was a law clerk for Chief Justice John W. Eggleston in 1967 and 1968, then worked as an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Arlington County. He practiced law in Fredericksburg County and was County Attorney in King George County. In 1985, he was elected general district judge in the 15 judicial circuit, and in 1989 circuit court judge in the same circuit. He was elected to the Court of Appeals in 2005.

The Supreme Court of Virginia Historical Commission was established in 2006 to preserve and promote the history of the court. Oral history interviews of retired Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, other individuals associated with the court, and civil rights attorneys were begun in 2007. The project is ongoing.

From the guide to the Court of Appeals of Virginia Oral History Interviews, 2009-2013, (Supreme Court of Virginia Archives, Virginia State Law Library)

The Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia was created by an act of the new General Assembly in 1779. Its jurisdiction was primarily appellate, and its members were elected by the legislature. The Constitution of 1971 changed the name of the court to its present title of Supreme Court of Virginia.

Justices are elected by a majority vote of both houses of the General Assembly for a term of twelve years. Vacancies on the court occurring between sessions of the General Assembly may be filled by the Governor for a term expiring thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the General Assembly. By statute, the Chief Justice is chosen by a majority vote of the seven justices.

By statute, the court may designate a retired justice to serve as Senior Justice for a renewable one year term. Senior justices sit with the court during regular sessions hearing writs and sitting on merit cases, especially when an active member of the court is recused from hearing a particular case.

G. Steven Agee served on the Supreme Court of Appeals from 2003 to 2008, when he was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Previously, he was a judge on the Court of Appeals of Virginia (2001 to 2003).

Robert N. Baldwin was Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1976 to 2005.

David Beach was Clerk of the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1984 to 2003.

Harry L. Carrico (1916-2013) served on the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1961 to 2003 and was chief justice from 1981 to 2003. He took senior status in 2003.

A. Christian Compton (1929-2006) served on the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1975 to 2000.

S. Bernard Goodwyn has served on the Supreme Court of Virginia since 2007.

Leroy Rountree Hassell, Jr., (1955-2011) was appointed to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1989 and served until his death in 2011. He was elected to a four-year term as chief justice in 2003 and reelected in 2007. He was the first African American to serve as chief justice.

Barbara M. Keenan served on the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1991 to 2010, when she was confirmed as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She was a judge on the Court of Appeals of Virginia from 1985 to 1991. She was the first woman to serve as circuit and appellate court judge in Virginia.

Cynthia Dinah Fannon Kinser was appointed to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1997. She was elected chief justice August 31, 2010, effective February 10, 2010. She is the first woman to serve as chief justice.

Lawrence L. Koontz, Jr. served on the Supreme Court of Appeals from 1995 to 2011, when he took senior status. He was a judge on the Court of Appeals of Virginia from 1985 to 1995.

Elizabeth B. Lacy served on the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1988 to 2007, when she took senior status. She was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Kathy Mays was Director of Judicial Planning, Office of the Executive Secretary, from 1982 to 2005.

Elizabeth A. McClanahan was appointed to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 2011. She was a judge on the Court of Appeals of Virginia from 2003 to 2011.

Leroy F. Millette was sworn in as a justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia 2008 Aug. 19. He served on the Court of Appeals of Virginia from February 2008 to August 2008.

William C. Mims was elected to the Supreme Court of Virginia March 10, 2010. Previously he was Chief Deputy Attorney General under Attorney General Robert McDonnell, and Attorney General following McDonnell's resignation to campaign for governor.

Cleo Elaine Powell was appointed to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 2011. She served on the Court of Appeals of Virginia from 2008 to 2011. Powell was the first African American woman appointed to an appellate court in Virginia.

Charles S. Russell served on the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1982 to 1991. He returned to the court as a senior justice in 2004.

Roscoe B. Stephenson (1922-2011) served on the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1981 to 1997.

John Charles Thomas served on the Supreme Court of Virginia from 1983 to 1989. He was the youngest person appointed to the court (32) and the first African American to serve on the court.

From the guide to the Video recordings of Court Ceremonies, 1991-2011, (Virginia State Law Library, Supreme Court of Virginia Archives)

The Court of Appeals of Virginia was established January 1, 1985. It provides appellate review of final decisions of the circuit courts in domestic relations matters, appeals from decisions of an administrative agency, traffic infractions and criminal cases, except where a sentence of death has been imposed. It also hears appeals of final decisions of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. Except in those cases where the decision of the Court of Appeals is final, any party aggrieved by a decision of the Court of Appeals may petition the Supreme Court for an appeal. The Court of Appeals consists of eleven judges. The court sits in panels of at least three judges, and the membership of the panels is rotated. The court sits at such locations as the chief judge designates, so as to provide convenient access to the various geographic areas of the Commonwealth.

The Court of Appeals began operations in January 1985 with ten judges: Chief Judge E. Ballard Baker, who died suddenly in March 1985; Bernard G. Barrow, James W. Benton, Charles H. Duff, William H. Hodges, Barbara M. Keenan, Lawrence L. Koontz, Jr. (Chief Judge, 1985-1992), Norman K. Moon (Chief Judge, 1992-1997), and Marvin F. Cole.

Judge Benton served on the court until he retired in 2007; Judge Coleman from 1985-2001, when he took senior status; Judge Keenan from 1985 to 1991, when she became a justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia; Justice Koontz from 1985 to 1995, when he joined Keenan on the Supreme Court of Virginia; and Norman K. Moon from 1985 to 1997, when he became a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia.

Cassandra Newby-Alexander is Professor of history at Norfolk State University.

From the guide to the Oral History of the Organization of the Court of Appeals of Virginia, 2013 Mar. 27, (Supreme Court of Virginia Archives, Virginia State Law Library)

The Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia was created by an act of the new General Assembly in 1779. By Constitutional amendment in 1928, the number of justices was increased from five to seven and the title of the presiding officer of the Court was changed from President to Chief Justice. At the same time, the amendment significantly increased the power given the Supreme Court by permitting the Court to prescribe forms and to regulate the practice of Virginia's courts. The Constitution of 1971 changed the name of the Court to its present title of Supreme Court of Virginia.

The Court of Appeals of Virginia was established January 1, 1985. It provides appellate review of final decisions of the circuit courts in domestic relations matters, appeals from decisions of an administrative agency, traffic infractions and criminal cases, except where a sentence of death has been imposed.

The Office of the Executive Secretary was established in 1952. It provides administrative support for all of the courts and magistrate offices within the Commonwealth. This includes the training and education of all judicial branch employees, as well as legal research assistance for judges.

The Office of the Clerk, Supreme Court of Virginia, receives, processes, and maintains permanent records of all appeals and other official documents filed with the Court. The Clerk also maintains records of qualified attorneys and other administrative records.

From the guide to the Supreme Court of Virginia Photographs, 1881-2011 (bulk 1950-2011), 1881-2011 (bulk 1950-2011), (Supreme Court of Virginia Archives, Virginia State Law Library)

The position of state law librarian is addressed in the Code of Virginia, section 42.1-60, originally enacted in 1902. The section enacted in 1902 provides for the "establishment of a State law library at Richmond, with branches thereof at Wytheville and Staunton, maintained as at present, which shall be managed by the supreme court of appeals. The said court shall appoint the librarian and other employees, to hold office during the pleasure of the court." Previously, the state law library in Richmond was managed by the general librarian of Virginia. The branches in Staunton and Wytheville and were managed by the Supreme Court of Appeals clerks in those locations.

The first state law librarian was William W. Scott, who served from 1904 to 1929. (From 1894 to 1904, Scott was responsible for the state law library in Richmond as part of his duties as the general librarian of Virginia.) Scott was followed by Lloyd M. Richards, who held the position from 1929 to 1961; H. Elmer Kiser (1961-1966), Walter S. Griggs, Jr. (1966-1967), and Marjorie Kirtley (1967-1982).

From the guide to the State Law Librarian Correspondence, 1932-1979, (Virginia State Law Library, Supreme Court of Virginia Archives)

The Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia was created by an act of the new General Assembly in 1779. Its jurisdiction was primarily appellate, and its members were elected by the legislature. The Constitution of 1971 changed the name of the court to its present title of Supreme Court of Virginia.

Any lawyer licensed to practice law in any court in Virginia was permitted to practice in any other court in Virginia, provided he take an "oath of fidelity to the Commonwealth of Virginia and to honestly demean himself in the practice of the law, and to the best of his ability execute his office of attorney at law." This provision also applied to residents of any state adjoining Virginia or the District of Columbia. (Code of Virginia, Including Legislation to the Year 1860, Chapter CLXIV, 699).

From the guide to the List of Attorneys Practicing in the Supreme Court of Virginia, 1869-1898, (Supreme Court of Virginia Archives, Virginia State Law Library)