Justice Cleo E. Powell has been unanimously elected as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, marking a historic milestone in the commonwealth’s judicial history. When she assumes office on January 1, 2026, Powell will become the first Black woman to lead Virginia’s highest court.
Powell, a 1982 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, will succeed Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn, another UVA Law alum, and will serve a four-year term.
A Historic Career of Firsts
Powell has spent her judicial career breaking barriers. In 2011, she became the first Black woman ever elected to the Virginia Supreme Court by the General Assembly, and she was re-elected in 2023. Before joining the state’s highest bench, she served as a judge at every level of Virginia’s judiciary — General District Court, Circuit Court, Court of Appeals, and ultimately, the Supreme Court.
According to the Virginia State Bar, she is the only member of the current court to have served at all four levels of Virginia’s judicial branch.
Her legal career also includes service in both the private and public sectors. She worked as corporate counsel for Virginia Power and as an assistant attorney general before her first judicial appointment.
A Legacy of Leadership and Mentorship
Throughout her career, Powell has been recognized not only for her jurisprudence but also for her role as a mentor and trailblazer. She has often spoken about the importance of paving the way for others, telling UVA Law graduates in a 2021 commencement address:
“We can all through a million little ways make a path easier, more illuminated, less treacherous for others who will come after.”
Her leadership has been honored repeatedly, including receiving the A. Donald McEachin Spotlight Award from the Black Law Students Association at UVA Law in 2023.
A Symbol of Progress
Powell’s ascent from Brunswick County to Chief Justice of Virginia’s highest court represents a powerful story of perseverance and achievement.
Her election underscores the importance of diversity in the judiciary and reflects the evolving face of leadership in American law.
As Chief Justice, Powell will oversee the administration of Virginia’s judicial system and continue shaping the commonwealth’s legal landscape.
