Justice Cleo E. Powell has been elected by her fellow justices to serve as the next chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the court announced Tuesday. Powell will begin her four-year term as chief justice on Jan. 1, 2026.

Powell, who has served on the state’s highest court since 2011, will become the first African American woman to lead the court in its history. She was elected by the seven-member court, which selects its chief justice by majority vote.

She will succeed outgoing Chief Justice Bernard S. Goodwyn, who has led the Court since 2022. Goodwyn described Powell as a dedicated and experienced jurist.

“She exemplifies integrity, civility, and professionalism, and I am confident she will lead the Court with wisdom and fairness,” Goodwyn said in a news release from the Su

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