MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Former longtime WVU College of Law professor and former state Supreme Court Justice Frank Cleckley died Monday at his home in Morgantown. He was 77.
Cleckley, the first African-American on the state Supreme Court, had a distinguished career as a jurist, professor and justice, Supreme Court Chief Justice Allen Loughry said.
“Frank Cleckley was undoubtedly a giant in the West Virginia legal community,” Loughry told MetroNews. “He was an excellent jurist and his opinions were elegant and scholarly.”
Cleckley grew up in Huntington. He graduated from the Indiana University College of Law and earned another degree from Harvard. He began as professor in the WVU College of Law in 1969. Loughry met him several years later as an undergraduate student.
“I would go to the Law School and go to his office to just meet with him and talk and learn. He was just a good person,” Loughry said.
Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed Cleckley to the state Supreme Court in May 1994. He served for two years and instead of seeking election to the Court he returned to the law school in Morgantown where he taught for several more years.
Cleckley was the author of the Evidence Handbook for West Virginia Lawyers and the West Virginia Criminal Procedure Handbook and while on the Court he issued more than 100 majority opinions.
The news of his death generated reaction across the legal community.
Justice Margaret Workman:
“Frank Cleckley’s immense contribution to the development of the law clearly makes him a giant in West Virginia history. His belief in the basic principle that justice is a fundamental right for all people was manifested in his life, his teaching, his writings, and the significant body of judicial work he created in only two years on the court. His work will benefit generations of West Virginians.”
Justice Robin Davis:
“I got to know him initially as a law student. Then he mentored me as a Supreme Court Justice,” she said. “He was an honorable and decent man who loved the law and loved the state of West Virginia. I will miss him deeply.”
Former Justice Thomas McHugh:
“He was brilliant. When he spoke, people listened because they all knew that he knew what he was talking about. He was a really good guy. His intellect was so high that it was really noteworthy and so advanced, and as a result people followed him.”
Cleckley received many awards over the years and has several awards and programs named after him.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.