The VLW Blog

The Virginia General Assembly reelected incumbent judges today, but did not elect two former legislators to the bench. Former Front Royal delegate Clay Athey, a Republican, was up for a seat on the 26th Judicial Circuit in Harrisonburg and former delegate Bud Phillips of Castlewood, a Democrat, was nominated for the 30th General District Court [...]

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The General Assembly elected Virginia Court of Appeals Judges Elizabeth A. McClanahan and Cleo E. Powell to the Supreme Court of Virginia today. The legislature then filled the court of appeals vacancies by electing Glen A. Huff, a former law partner of Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and a civil litigator in Virginia Beach, and Stephen [...]

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The General Assembly is expected to fill circuit court openings in Virginia Beach and on the Eastern Shore during today’s meeting. Disagreements between Democratic and Republican lawmakers had prevented officials from electing judges in these circuits, according toThe Virginian-Pilot. A deal has reportedly been reached. Under the agreement, former Del. Glenn Croshaw is expected to [...]

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The chairmen of the House and Senate Courts of Justice Committee said this afternoon they expect the General Assembly to convene Friday and elect appellate judges. House Courts Chairman Dave Albo, R-Fairfax,  said the Republican caucus will propose the elevation of Virginia Court of Appeals Judges Elizabeth A. McClanahan and Cleo E. Powell to the [...]

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Gov. Bob McDonnell says he’s waited long enough for the General Assembly to fill vacant Virginia judgeships — he’s ready to do it himself. Saying citizens  cannot afford further delay, McDonnell wrote to legislative leaders Thursday, urging the Assembly to either elect judges or adjourn so he can make the appointments. McDonnell’s letter notes “[s]ubstitute [...]

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Is Virginia ever going to get two new Supreme Court justices? Here is where we stand, as of our report (log-in required) last month: There are two seats open, due to the retirement of Justice Lawrence Koontz and the death of Justice Leroy Hassell. Republicans in the House want Appeals Court Judge Elizabeth McClanahan to [...]

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The Virginia General Assembly will be in town today and could fill two vacancies on the Supreme Court of Virginia, but key players in making that happen say any action is very unlikely. The primary reason for the one-day session is the realignment of congressional districts. The Senate and the House of Delegates have different [...]

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The General Assembly was too distracted by redistricting this evening to negotiate seriously on filling two vacancies on the Supreme Court of Virginia, but legislators did manage to fill 14 lower court seats on which local delegations had agreed. Senate Democrats finally got around to a counter-offer to House Republicans on the Supreme Court vacancies, [...]

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The state appears unlikely to get new judges before April 25 at the earliest, although the Republican caucus in the House of Delegates selected Virginia Court of Appeals Judges D. Arthur Kelsey and Elizabeth A. McClanahan as its candidates for two vacancies on the Supreme Court of Virginia. If those two are elected to the [...]

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The Virginia State Bar and the statewide volunteer bars have set up the machinery for vetting candidates who want to succeed Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. on the Supreme Court of Virginia The bars are asking for written materials to be submitted to them by Oct. 29. The VSB’s judicial nominating committee and corresponding groups [...]

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