John Charles Thomas (judge) facts for kids

John Charles Thomas (born September 18, 1950) is an American lawyer. He is well-known for being a former justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia. He made history as the first African American and the youngest person ever to serve on this important court.

Early Life and Education

John Charles Thomas was born on September 18, 1950. He grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. He went to the University of Virginia for his college studies. In 1972, he earned a degree called a Bachelor of Arts in American government.

After college, he continued his education at the University of Virginia School of Law. He studied law there and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1975. This degree is needed to become a lawyer.

A Trailblazing Legal Career

After finishing law school, John Thomas joined a big law firm called Hunton & Williams. He was the very first African American lawyer to work at this firm. This was a big step for him and for society.

He once said that joining the firm was a major step. It was part of making society more fair and integrated. In April 1982, he became a partner at the firm. This meant he was a part-owner and leader. He was the first Black lawyer in the American South to start at a major firm and become a partner.

Serving on the Supreme Court

In 1983, John Thomas was chosen to be a justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia. This was a huge achievement. He became the first African American to serve on this high court.

He was also the youngest person of any race to become a justice there. He was only 32 years old at the time. He served on the court for nearly seven years. He later resigned due to illness in 1989. Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr. took his place. Hassell later became the court's first Black chief justice.

Life After the Court

After leaving the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1989, Judge Thomas continued to practice law. He worked in Richmond, Virginia for the law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. Today, Judge Thomas is retired from practicing law.

Awards and Other Roles

John Thomas has received many honors for his work. In 1995, the NAACP gave him their Lifetime Image Award. This award recognized his important contributions.

In 2005, he was chosen to be a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This court is based in Switzerland. It helps settle disagreements in sports around the world. Lawyers and former judges from many countries are part of this court. It handles cases from major sports competitions.

In 2006, Thomas was appointed to the Board of Visitors for the College of William & Mary. He was reappointed to this position in 2009. In 2009, he was also considered for a seat on the federal 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

See also

• List of African-American jurists
• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Virginia