Black female attorneys are continuing to make judgeship gains in Richmond and Henrico County.

In Richmond, General District Court Judge Jacqueline S. McClenney has been elevated by the General Assembly to the Circuit Court bench effective April 1. Judge McClenney will replace Judge Joi Jeter Taylor, who retired in January.

To fill Judge McClenney’s slot, the legislature elected attorney Devika E. Davis, who has her own legal practice, to the General District Court. She is to become a full-time judge June 1.

In Henrico County, Judge Rondelle D. Herman of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court is the General Assembly’s choice to move to the Circuit Court bench, effective March 16. She will replace Judge James S. Yoffy, who retired.

To fill the vacancy that Judge Herman’s move is creating, the legislature elected Stacy E. Lee of the Allen & Allen law firm to the bench.

Ms. Lee, who got her educational start in Richmond Public Schools, is the first lawyer from the 111-year-old, personal injury firm to become a judge, the Richmond-based firm noted. Her six-year term as a judge begins May 1.

The positive news for these black women stands in contrast Chesterfield County Judge Pamela O’Berry, the county’s longest- serving judge who failed to be reappointed by the General Assembly.

A General District Court judge since 2009, Judge O’Berry is one of two Black judges in Chesterfield. Her final day will be March 31.

Her departure became official when the General Assembly adjourned the 2021 session Monday without her name coming up for a vote.

Still, more opportunities lie ahead for those who want to see diversity among local judges.

The General Assembly created six new seats on the state Court of Appeals after changing the law to grant an automatic right of appeal in virtually every civil and criminal case. The appeals court is one step below the state Supreme Court.

The 11-member appeals court currently has one vacancy, meaning the legislature has seven seats to fill. If most of those seats go to experienced circuit court judges, that will open seats and create more opportunities for lower court judges to move up or for private attorneys to become judges.

With a push to diversify the bench, prospects that additional lawyers of color will be named to the bench appear to be bright.