Cleo Elaine Powell (born January 12, 1957) is a justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. She was sworn in on October 21, 2011 for a term ending in July 31, 2023. Justice Powell is the first African American female to serve on Virginia's highest Court and the fifth woman to serve on the Court.Born in Brunswick County, Virginia, she received an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 1979 and received her juris doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982.