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Article: Leroy Rountree Hassell Sr. elected Virginia Supreme Court's first Black chief justice. (National Report).
- Article from:
- Jet
- Article date:
- September 16, 2002
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Virginia Supreme Court Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell Sr. was recently elected Virginia's first Black chief justice by a vote of his colleagues, the court announced.
Hassell, 47, will become the state's 24th chief justice by succeeding Harry L. Carrico as head of the seven-member court. Carrico's term ends in 2003 and he plans to retire January 31 after 42 years on the court. Hassell will serve a four-year term on his new post.
The election marks the first time the justices have selected a chief justice by popular vote rather than by seniority. The General Assembly passed legislation authorizing the change this year.
Virginia's chief justice ...