The first black justice on Virginia's Supreme Court will welcome new students to the College of William & Mary this fall.
John Charles Thomas will speak at the school's Aug. 30 convocation in Williamsburg, Virginia, the university said in a press release. The event marks the beginning of the academic year.
Thomas was 32 when he was appointed to the commonwealth's Supreme Court. He was the youngest person to sit on the bench, on which he served until 1989.
Thomas is now a senior partner at the Hunton & Williams law firm. He is also a longtime member of the school's board.
The school's convocation will coincide with the start of a yearlong set of events to commemorate the school's first black residential student 50 years ago.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
