On behalf of The Justinian Society, we share our condolences with the family, friends and colleagues of Judge Lisa Richette. Our Society deeply mourns her passing.

As the first Italian-American female jurist in Philadelphia, Judge Richette was a giant in our legal community and a trailblazing role model for women lawyers. When she graduated with honors from Yale law school, most firms would only offer her a job as a secretary. But she didn’t give up. She proved that she could compete with the best of them. She went on to become a judge, a law school professor and an acclaimed author. Even with her successes, she did not lapse into complacency. She continued to use her boundless energy, passion and talents to fight for the rights of children, abused women and the homeless.

Judge Richette epitomized the ideals of the Justinian Society and was an inspiration to all of us. In 1994, we selected her as the first recipient of the Beccaria Award. Since then, the award has been presented annually by the Justinian Society and the Criminal Justice Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association to a legal jurist, scholar or practitioner for outstanding contributions to the cause of justice and the advancement of legal education. Judge Richette also was the first recipient of The Justinian Society’s Outstanding Women in the Law Award, in June 2000.

A brilliant, passionate and caring person, Judge Lisa Richette will be missed by everyone who was privileged to know her.

            Rudy Garcia
            Chancellor, The Justinian Society