Leroy Hassell Sr., Virginia Supreme Court Justice, took it personally when mentally ill or indigent people were treated unfairly in any of the commonwealth's courtrooms. He took the responsibility of these wrongs. He did the best of his ability to make the judicial system of Virginia more humane and more equitable.

According to The Virginian-Pilot report in 2009, he quoted that, "When the system fails, I just can't be derelict in my duties in addressing those failures."

At the age of 65, Hassell died this week. He leaves behind a legacy steeped in compassion. He was brought up in Broad Creek, and graduated from Norview High. He attended the University of Virginia and Harvard Law. At the age of 34, he was appointed to Virginia Supreme Court in the year 1989. Hassell was only the second African American justice in history of US. He was the first leader of the high court who was chosen by his peers rather than through seniority.

During these eight years at the pinnacle of the state's court system, Hassell's faith and personal convictions drove an activist agenda. This was both influential and at times controversial. In the year 2000, he wrote a fierce dissent from a majority opinion overturning Virginia's 1952 law barring cross burning.