Overview

Franklin Dorrah Cleckley (August 1, 1940 – August 14, 2017) was an American lawyer, legal scholar, and judge. For more than four decades he shaped legal education in West Virginia through teaching, writing, and public service. He held the Arthur B. Hodges Professorship of Law and later the title of professorship emeritus at West Virginia University College of Law, where he taught from 1969 until 2013. Endowed professorship and academic leadership were hallmarks of his career.

Early life and path to law

Cleckley was born in Huntington, West Virginia, and spent much of his life connected to the state he served. He pursued a legal career that combined practice, scholarship, and teaching. His trajectory—from a young lawyer to a prominent professor and later a justice—reflects a commitment to both the academy and the bench. Details of his formative education and early practice contributed to his later expertise in criminal law and procedure.

Academic career and scholarship

Beginning in 1969, Cleckley became a fixture at the West Virginia University College of Law. Over four decades as a faculty member he taught generations of lawyers, supervised clinical work, and developed curricular materials. His role included classroom instruction, mentorship of students, and written contributions to legal literature that influenced practitioners and other scholars. His academic work emphasized clear analysis of criminal procedure, evidence, and appellate advocacy.

Judicial service and significance

In 1994 Governor Gaston Caperton appointed Cleckley to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, making him the first African-American to serve on the state's highest court. He served on the Court until 1996. The appointment was nationally notable as a milestone in West Virginia's judicial history and reflected Cleckley’s standing as both a scholar and a public servant. After leaving the bench he returned to teaching and continued to influence state law through commentary and public engagement.

Contributions and legacy

  • Longstanding teacher and mentor who shaped legal education at West Virginia University for more than 40 years.
  • Author and commentator whose work clarified complex issues in criminal procedure and evidence for students and practitioners.
  • Historic appointee to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and a symbol of progress in judicial diversity within the state.
  • Respected public figure whose opinions, lectures, and service affected legal practice and civic life across West Virginia.

Final years and remembrance

Cleckley retired from full-time teaching after a long tenure and held the status of professor emeritus. He continued to be involved in legal education and public discourse until his passing at home in Morgantown, West Virginia, on August 14, 2017, at the age of 77. Morgantown remembers him as a scholar, jurist, and mentor whose career bridged classroom, courtroom, and community. He is frequently cited in discussions of legal pedagogy and judicial history in the region.

For more context about his academic appointment, recognition, and selected writings see institutional and archival materials at relevant law school and state historical resources. Huntington and other West Virginia communities continue to acknowledge his role in the state's legal development.