Leroy Hassell, former Virginia Supreme Court chief justice and a University alumnus, passed away Wednesday at the age of 55. Born in Norfolk, he became the second black on the court when he joined in 1989. In 2003 he became the first black chief justice and stepped down only last month.
Hassell's passing is a great loss not only for his family and friends, but for the state of Virginia, Brian Moran, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, stated in a press release.\n"There are few individuals in Virginia with the combination of stellar accomplishment, drive and passion for the law," Moran said.
Members of the University community expressed similar sentiments about Hassell's character.
"Leroy Hassell was one of the University's most distinguished graduates," Prof. Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics, said in an e-mail. Sabato met Hassell during the 1970s, and Hassell often took time from his duties as chief justice in Richmond to lecture in Sabato's introductory American politics course.
"The students always learned a great deal, and he would stay and answer questions afterwards until every student was satisfied," Sabato said.
Hassell played an important role in helping his generation look beyond racial lines, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said in a statement.
Because of existing prejudice and the low number of black students at the University, "it wasn't easy to be an African-American student at U.Va. when Leroy was here," Sabato said. He added that Leroy left a "remarkable legacy" by overcoming these hurdles to go on to Harvard Law School before becoming Virginia's first black chief justice.
Hassell's funeral service will be held Saturday.
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