[6] Cleckley served three years in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War as a Judge Advocate General.

[7] While serving as a Navy JAG officer he earned the reputation, given by the United States Secretary of Defense, as being the most sought after attorney in Vietnam.

[6] Justice Cleckley taught courses in evidence, criminal procedure and civil rights.

[15] Cleckley authored several law review articles for the West Virginia Law Review, including "A Free Market Analysis of the Effects of Medical Malpractice Damage Cap Statutes: Can We Afford to Live with Inefficient Doctors?"

(1991–92);[16] "Clearly Erroneous: The Fourth Circuit's Decision to Uphold Removal of a State-Bar Disciplinary Proceeding Under the Federal Officer Removal Statute" (1989–90);[17] "A Modest Proposal: A Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege for West Virginia" (1990–91);[18] and "Tribute to a Champion: Thurgood Marshall" (1991–92).

;[19] He wrote a foreword entitled "Never Again" (1996) for an issue of the Race and Ethnic Ancestry Law Digest (later the Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice).