The Honorable Cleo Powell
Brunswick County Public Schools
Class of 1975
Chief Justice Powell is a 1975 graduate of Brunswick High School.
The Honorable Powell is the Chief Justice of The Supreme Court of Virginia. She is the second woman and the first African-American woman to hold this office. Additionally, Chief Justice Powell has served on the Supreme Court of Virginia since 2011. She has been a Judge at each level of the state’s judicial system. Prior to her career on the bench, Chief Justice Powell worked as an attorney in the private sector.
She has made multiple efforts to engage with Brunswick County Public Schools’ elementary and secondary students to share in her historic achievements during the 2025-2026 school year.
Chief Justice Powell led an assembly and talked to students about her career and her experiences growing up in Brunswick County. She also invited a group of students from Russell Middle School and Brunswick High School to her investiture. Finally, she arranged for a group of sixth graders to observe a hearing at the Supreme Court and tour the capital.
Chief Justice Powell shared inspirational words of wisdom with the students as she told them, “Today you can see it, tomorrow you can be it.”