Oral History Interview of Frederick A. Hodnett, Jr., Supreme Court of Virginia, October 11, 2013

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia State Law Library, Supreme Court of Virginia
Virginia State Law Library
Supreme Court of Virginia
100 North Ninth Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Ashley Vavra, Librarian-Archivist
Phone: (804) 225-2739
Phone: (804) 786-2075

Summary

Creator:
Supreme Court of Virginia Archives
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Oral history interview of Frederick A. Hodnett, Jr., by Cassandra Newby-Alexander, Professor of History, Norfolk State University, in the fifth floor conference room at the Supreme Court of Virginia in Richmond, June 3, 2014. Hodnett talks about his family and childhood in Dublin, Virginia, his education at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia and the University of Richmond, attending law school at the University of Virginia, his military service as a translator during the Vietnam war, and his long career as deputy court administrator. He discusses being hired by Hubert Bennett, executive secretary (court administrator) from 1952 to 1975; working for Robert Baldwin, executive secretary from 1976 to 2005; the changes in the court system with passage of the Court Reoorganization Act that took effect July 1, 1973; his work with judges statewide during his career, and working under Chief Justices Harry L. Carrico and Leroy Hassell, Sr.

Biographical / historical:

The Supreme Court of Virginia Historical Commission was established in 2006 to preserve and promote the history of the court. Oral history interviews of retired Supreme Court of Virginia justices, Court of Appeals of Virginia judges, other individuals associated with the Virginia courts, and civil rights attorneys were begun in 2007. The project is ongoing.

Frederick A. Hodnett, Jr. (b. 1944) began working for the Surpeme Court of Virginia as deputy executive secretary in 1973 and was assistant executive secretary from 1976 to 2006. A native of Abingdon, Virginia, he graduated from the University of Richmond and earned a law degree from the University of Virginia.

Acquisition information:
The interview was recorded for the Supreme Court of Virginia Archives in June 2014 and accessioned October 6, 2014.
Physical description:
1 digital image moving format (MP4), 2 hours, 34 minutes, 55 seconds; 1 transcript (65 p.)