March 02, 2023
Justice Mann Appointed to Lead Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative
On March 2, 2023, the Supreme Court of Virginia announced that Justice Thomas P. Mann has been appointed by Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn to serve as chair of the Virginia Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative, succeeding Senior Justice William C. Mims.
Justice Mann will oversee the collaborative efforts of the Virginia Law Foundation, the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Bar Association, and Virginia’s eight law schools to provide wellness education and assistance to judges, lawyers, legal staff and law students.
Since 2019, the Virginia Lawyers’ Wellness Initiative has administered funding to the Virginia Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program (formerly Lawyers Helping Lawyers). This independent non-profit organization provides confidential, non-disciplinary assistance to members of the Virginia legal profession (and their family members) who are experiencing impairment as a result of substance abuse or mental health issues.
Efforts to improve wellness in the legal profession were initiated by then-Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons when he appointed a 25-member Committee on Lawyer Well-Being and charged it to comprehensively examine the state of wellness within the legal profession. The Committee, chaired by Justice Mims, released its final report in 2018, A Profession at Risk, which became a blueprint for wellness programs and reforms throughout the profession.
Senior Justice Mims applauded the appointment of Justice Mann: “I was honored to work with many dedicated volunteers to bring this Initiative from concept to fruition. Justice Mann will carry it forward to greater success. I look forward to continuing to serve under his leadership.”
Read the Court's full press release.
Updated: Mar 02, 2023