Members of the legal fraternity are remembering former Associative Justice Lyle Richmond with fondness, respect and a sense of loss.
Steve Watson, the governor’s Chief Counsel, speaking on a personal level said, “Although Lyle was not well, his passing still came as a shock to me. I had always pictured Lyle as a legal version of the Man of Steel”.
Watson commented, “I am honored and privileged to have known Lyle for over 40 years, mostly as a professional colleague, but also as a friend.
“He was the finest technical lawyer I have ever been associated with. His thoroughness, attention to detail and precision in legal craftsmanship was unparalleled.
“Deeply thoughtful, he worked at a deliberative and calculated pace that did service to the quality of his work.
Watson continued that Richmond deeply loved his wife Violet and the family.
He recalled that when he was a banker he had the good fortune to work closely with Lyle and Violet as they built their dream home on Violet’s family land in Lepuapua.
“I saw on a regular basis how deep and caring their relationship was, as noted by Senator Tua’olo when he pointed out Lyle taking Violet to lunch every day, ‘no miss'”.
Watson said, “Lyle Richmond’s passing creates a void not only in the legal community, but in the greater community of American Samoa, both corporeal and spiritual. Lyle’s constant strive for excellence in all he did evidenced that we all can have a higher purpose in life.”
Another attorney who shared his thoughts about Justice Richmond was Mark Ude. “He was a wonderful husband and father, a patient judge and the loss to the island is irreparable”.
Former Assistant Attorney General Diane Williams Roy said she was sorry to hear of Judge Richmond’s passing. “He was a good man and a great judge to practice in front of”.
