Rankin County Youth Court Judge Thomas Broome died Sunday, May 21, after fighting an undisclosed illness for several weeks, according to the Rankin County Youth Court.

Broome, 57, of Brandon, served as a youth court judge for over 20 years and served in other positions, such as chairman of the Mississippi Council of Youth Court Judges for 12 years and as co-chair of the Mississippi Supreme Court's Commission on Children's Justice since 2006.

Broome also served as County Court and Rankin County Youth Court judge since 2003.

The Rankin County Youth Court in Pelahatchie released a statement via Facebook announcing Broome's death.

"It is with deep sorrow that the Rankin County Youth Court must announce the passing of Honorable Judge Thomas H. Broome," officials said in the statement. "Judge Broome departed this life peacefully this morning, surrounded by his beloved family after battling an illness for several weeks. Today, Rankin County lost a visionary leader in juvenile justice. His dedication and passion for juvenile justice fostered the mending of many broken homes and helped reverse the downward spiral many troubled youths and their families were caught up in. His work will never be forgotten."

Officials said through Broome's tenure of working with the youth, he became a mentor to the youth and other judges.

Broome was a lifelong native of Rankin County. He was married to his former law school classmate, Paula Henderson Broome.

"He was a leader among youth court judges, a trailblazer in developing programs and initiatives to improve the lives of children and families, and a steadfast guardian of the well-being of children in his care," the press release states.

Broome's passing affected the community and those who worked alongside him to develop initiatives to improve the lives of children and families. News of his illness spread on social media in April, encouraging prayers and praise for the judge.

Supreme Court Justice Dawn Beam, co-chair of the Commission on Children's Justice with Broome, said he was a true public servant who left his mark on the lives of children, youth and families who appeared before him.

"He has led in bringing national solutions to Mississippi, such as trauma-informed care and training to educate judges and the child welfare communities on alternatives to removing children from their homes," Beam said. "He was at the forefront of juvenile justice reform, leading his county to develop a premier detention facility while always working a phone call away to advise other youth court judges of options to help troubled youth."

Hinds County Court and Youth Court Judge Carlyn Hicks said Broome was a brilliant legal mind whose impact has been felt in jurisdictions nationwide.

"As a pioneer of the parent representation movement in Mississippi, Judge Broome championed efforts to improve and enhance our legal system for the benefit of vulnerable families across the state," Hicks said. "The children of Mississippi are better today because of his decades of dedicated advocacy and leadership on their behalf through innovation and steadfast judicial service."

According to the press release, "Hicks worked with Judge Broome on numerous initiatives and represented indigent parents by court appointment before the Rankin County Youth Court. The Rankin County Youth Court was one of the pilot programs which began offering court-appointed attorney representation to indigent parents in 2012, and Judge Broome served as chair of the Parent Representation Committee."

Broome founded the Rankin County Juvenile Drug Court in 2006 and started one of the state's two earliest family drug court programs in 2010. He also established a Safe Babies Court Team for Rankin County in July 2015, the second in the state. He implemented the state's second Zero to Three programs, giving intensive services to children from birth to age 3.

"A celebration of life service and reception will be held on June 10, 1 to 4 p.m. at the Muse Center at 515 Country Place Parkway in Pearl. A graveside service will be conducted on June 9 at 2:30 p.m. at Bay Springs Cemetery, 368 Mississippi Highway 18 in Bay Springs," according to the State of Mississippi Judiciary website.

Below is a list of his accomplishments.

• Broome held national and statewide offices related to the welfare of children. He served on the board and later as secretary of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. He was on the Family Violence and Domestic Relations Department Advisory Committee, the Alcohol and Other Drugs Committee, the Membership Committee, and the Diversity Committee of NCJFCJ.

• Broome previously served as a member of the Mississippi State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee, a member of the Mississippi Uniform Youth Court Rules Commission, co-chair of the Legislation Committee on the State Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice, vice-chair of the Mississippi  Children's Justice Act Task Force, and vice-chair of the Statewide Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Task Force.

• Former Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Broome as the Legal Committee Chair of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Teen Pregnancy and Health Issues. Former Gov. Haley Barbour appointed him to the Mississippi Statewide Advisory Group for Juvenile Justice. He also was selected to participate in developing the Statewide Dropout Prevention Plan.

• Broome received numerous awards and commendations for his advocacy for children and families. He received the 2015 Chief Justice Award, the Judicial Innovation Award from the Capital Area Bar Association and the Jackson Young Lawyers Association, the Lookin' to the Future Award presented by Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth, and the Dr. Larry Leflore Juvenile Justice Advocacy Award. He was honored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness Mississippi Chapter.

• Broome was a member of the Pelahatchie Masonic Lodge No. 276.

• Before his election to the bench, Broome was elected County Prosecutor and Youth Court Prosecutor for Rankin County and Assistant Municipal Prosecutor for Florence, Mississippi, while maintaining an active general private practice.

• Broome graduated in 1996 from the Mississippi College School of Law, serving on the Law Review, Moot Court Board, and as two-term President of the Law School Student Bar Association. He later served as an adjunct professor there.

• Broome graduated with the highest honors from Mississippi State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1988 and worked as a co-op student for Eastman Kodak. At MSU, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame and Who's Who and was recognized as the Most Outstanding Engineering Graduate. After college, he managed the Government Practice Division of Andersen Consulting.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Rankin County MS Judge dies at 57