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Justice Stephenson receives Groot Professionalism Award

Supreme Court Senior Justice Roscoe B. Stephenson Jr. has been named the third recipient of the annual Roger Groot Professionalism Award, given by the Ted Dalton Chapter of the American Inn of Court.

Stephenson received the award at the chapter’s annual meeting and banquet held earlier this month at Roanoke College.

From his early beginnings as a country lawyer, and throughout his tenure on the Supreme Court of Virginia, Roscoe B. Stephenson Jr. has exemplified the four core values of the American Inns of Court: professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal excellence, the chapter said in the citation.
Stephenson was born in Covington. Following a brief stint in the United States Army in 1942-1943, Stephenson received his undergraduate and law degrees from Washington and Lee University. Stephenson began practicing law in 1947, in partnership with his father.

From 1952 to1964, Stephenson was commonwealth’s attorney for Alleghany County. He then returned to private practice in Covington and Clifton Forge until 1973, when he became a judge in the 25th Judicial Circuit. He was elevated to the Supreme Court of Virginia in 1981.

Stephenson left fulltime service to become a senior justice in 1997 and continues to serve in that capacity.

Stephenson has held many positions of leadership and service, including service as a member of the Virginia State Bar Council (1969-1973) and as vice president of the Virginia Bar Association. He also is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

The award was presented to Stephenson on behalf of the organization by United States District Judge Glen E. Conrad, president of the Ted Dalton Chapter of the American Inn of Court. Additional remarks of recognition and commendation were given by Supreme Court Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr.

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