Mourning the loss of Judge Richard FitzGerald ('74)

Mourning the loss of Judge Richard FitzGerald ('74)

Richard FitzGerald accepts an alumni award at a 1995 law school event.

The Brandeis School of Law joins the Louisville legal community in mourning the loss of Judge Richard FitzGerald, who died Dec. 27, 2017, at the age of 71. 

A 1974 graduate of the law school, FitzGerald was appointed to the Juvenile Court bench in 1975. He served as chief judge of Juvenile Court for more than 10 years and was instrumental in the creation of the concept of a unified "family" Court, from which he retired in 2000.

He "devoted his entire career to advocating for the welfare of Kentucky's abused and neglected children. For his efforts, he was recognized as Judge of the Year by the National CASA Association and received the Chief Justice's Special Service Award for Outstanding Service to the Courts of Kentucky," according to his obituary.

The Courier-Journal posted an article about FitzGerald's impact and his lasting legacy.