Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark has died. Clark, 71, passed away after brief cancer illness, according to a statement issued Friday by the court.
Clark had the longest tenure of any justice currently on the high court, and heard 1,100 cases in her time. Her law career launched in 1979 and she was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2005, where she served as chief justice from 2010 to 2012.
Gov. Bill Lee has ordered flags to fly at half-staff across the state.
“Justice Clark was a fierce advocate for justice and a trailblazer for women in the legal profession,” Lee said. “She also made a profound impact on our state as an active member of her church and the Franklin community.”
In 1989, Clark became the first female trial judge to serve rural counties in Tennessee. She was also known for involvement in multiple court system programs, including the Access To Justice initiative.
In a statement, fellow Justice Holly Kirby remembered Clark as “always calm, measured, precise and even-handed.”
Justice Sharon Lee tweeted that she counted Clark as both a friend and as an outstanding justice.
Clark’s death leaves Sharon Lee as the sole Democratic appointee on the high court. The governor will have to fill the seat, setting up a decision that will impact the makeup of the court.
Plans for a memorial and funeral services have not yet be announced.
