Judge Leslie Harris ’84, former judge at the Suffolk Juvenile Court and one of the BC Law Black Alumni Network’s (BAN) founding members, passed away unexpectedly on October 15. Judge Harris was a champion of diversity at BC Law and within the broader legal profession. He mentored countless students and young alumni, and was particularly active in the greater Boston community, serving on boards and teaching at local schools, including the New School for Children and Salem State University. Among his many volunteer activities, he was a program consultant at the Museum of African American History in Boston and the director of the Melrose METCO Program.
“The impact of Leslie Harris on this community—and the larger Boston community—is difficult to capture in words,” said BC Law Dean Odette Lienau. “As a founding member of BAN and an extremely active alumnus, he influenced hundreds of students over the years. His warmth lit up every room he entered, and his love for BC Law and all it stands for was clear. We will miss him terribly.”
In a 2023 interview for the Black History at BC Law project, Judge Harris said he was drawn to the school’s Jesuit focus on service, attributing his success to supportive classmates, faculty, and staff. “I’ve gone to three colleges,” he said. “The one I felt the most allegiance to has been Boston College Law School because of the way they supported me and the way they opened doors for me.”
“For over four decades, Judge Harris stood as a pillar of wisdom, courage, and unwavering integrity,” said Arianne Waldron ’14, president of BAN. “He was more than a legal mind; he was a mentor, a teacher, and a fierce force for justice in systems that have too often overlooked those who look like us. Through his example, he showed us that excellence and advocacy could—and must—coexist.”