Celebrating the life of Richard Edelin Crouch.
House Joint Resolution 241 is a commemorative resolution honoring the life and legacy of Richard Edelin Crouch, a Northern Virginia attorney who died on December 24, 2025. The resolution recounts his education at Washington-Liberty High School and the College of William & Mary, his service in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, and his long legal career in Virginia and before multiple federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
The resolution highlights Crouch’s major influence on family law, especially inter-state and international family law, and notes his work on issues such as property division, diplomats’ pensions, and mediator ethics. It also recognizes his leadership in the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section, his service with the Virginia Family Law Coalition, his ACLU volunteer work, and his broader civic and historical contributions. The measure directs the Clerk of the House of Delegates to prepare a copy for presentation to his family as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect.
HJ241 does not change state law, create new programs, or appropriate funds; it is a ceremonial resolution. Its practical effect is to formally recognize Richard Crouch’s contributions to Virginia’s legal community and to present an official copy to his family. The resolution also serves as a public record of the General Assembly’s appreciation for his influence on family law and related legal policy in the Commonwealth.
The sentiment surrounding the resolution is strongly positive and respectful. The General Assembly unanimously or near-unanimously agreed to the measure in both chambers, reflecting broad bipartisan appreciation for Crouch’s professional accomplishments, public service, and civic involvement. The tone of the resolution itself is memorial and laudatory, emphasizing his expertise, leadership, and lasting impact.
There is no notable policy contention in the bill or the available legislative history. Because HJ241 is a memorial resolution rather than substantive legislation, it does not appear to have generated debate over legal changes, fiscal effects, or competing viewpoints. The only substantive content is the tribute to Crouch’s career and service, which was presented in a uniformly favorable manner.