Eight bench candidates highly rated by VSB panel

The Virginia State Bar Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee has released its recommendations for three appellate court judgeships that could be filled next month by the General Assembly.

The panel deemed two candidates “highly qualified” for the single scheduled vacancy on the Supreme Court of Virginia: appellate lawyer L. Steven Emmert and Virginia Court of Appeals Judge D. Arthur Kelsey.

Six candidates received the top rating for two available seats on the Court of Appeals: Emmert, Henrico Circuit Judge Gary A. Hicks, Hampton Circuit Judge Christopher W. Hutton, Danville Circuit Judge Stacy W. Moreau, Prince William County Circuit Judge Mary Grace O’Brien and Wythe County Circuit Judge Josiah T. Showalter.

Twenty-five candidates had applied for the appellate seats. The full list of those voted as qualified by the VSB panel is below, with the vote totals.

The JCEC evaluation process is the most extensive of those conducted by Virginia bar groups. The 17 members conducted an investigation of each candidate in advance of the meeting by interviewing lawyers and judges familiar with that individual. The JCEC then received the investigation reports before interviewing each candidate.

Interviews were held Oct. 21 in a 15-hour session, according to JCEC chair Joseph A. Condo.

“It was a truly heroic endeavor,” Condo said, referring to the entire screening process.

Under voting procedures, after each candidate is interviewed, a vote is taken as to whether the candidate is “Qualified.” A majority of the JCEC members voting is required for a candidate to be designated as “Qualified.”

After all of the candidates have been interviewed, a second vote is taken for the candidates. A majority of those voting in the second vote is required for a candidate to be designated as “Highly Qualified.”

The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association also released their recommendations Oct. 22. They are below.

Supreme Court of Virginia

Highly Qualified

• W. Coleman Allen, Jr.
• The Honorable Rossie D. Alston
• L. Steven Emmert
• The Honorable Mary Jane Hall
• The Honorable Stephen R. McCullough

Qualified

• The Honorable Randolph A. Beales
• The Honorable D. Arthur Kelsey
• Christy A. McCormick

Virginia Court of Appeals

Highly Qualified

• L. Steven Emmert
• The Honorable Mary Jane Hall
• The Honorable Lorraine Nordlund
• The Honorable Mary Grace O’Brien

Qualified

• The Honorable Chadwick S. Dotson
• The Honorable Richard E. Gardiner
• The Honorable Gary A. Hicks
• The Honorable Christopher W. Hutton
• Christy A. McCormick
• Patricia P. Nagel

The candidates’ ratings by the Old Dominion Bar Association were released Oct. 28. They are as follows:

VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT

• W. Coleman Allen, Jr.                        Qualified
• Hon. Rossie D. Alston                        Highly Qualified and Recommended
• Hon. Randolph A. Beales                   Highly Qualified
• L. Steven Emmert, Esq.                      Highly Qualified
• Hon. Mary Jane Hall                           Qualified
• Hon. D. Arthur Kelsey                         Highly Qualified and Recommended
• Christy McCormick                              Qualified
• Hon. Stephen R. McCullough            Highly Qualified

VIRGINIA COURT OF APPEALS

• Hon. Chadwick S. Dotson                  Qualified
• Jason Eige, Esq.                                  Qualified
• L. Steven Emmert, Esq.                      Highly Qualified
• Richard E. Gardiner                            Highly Qualified
• Hon. Mary Jane Hall                           Highly Qualified
• Hon. Gary A. Hicks                            Highly Qualified and Recommended
• Hon. Christopher W. Hutton              Highly Qualified
• Hon. Colleen Killilea                          Qualified
• Maureen Madsen, Esq.                       Qualified
• Christy McCormick                            Qualified
• Hon. Stacey Moreau:                          Qualified
• Patricia P. Nagel, Esq.                        Highly Qualified and Recommended
• Hon. Lorraine Norlund                       Qualified
• Hon. Mary Grace O’Brien                  Highly Qualified
• Wesley G. Russell, Esq.                      Qualified
• Elwood Sanders, Esq.                         Qualified
• Hon. Josiah T. Showalter                    Highly Qualified
• Hon. Robert J. Smith                          Highly Qualified
• Virginia Theisen, Esq.                         Qualified

Tom Aldous was listed on the master list as a candidate, but he did not request an interview or rating from ODBA, according to the group.

The Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys reported Nov. 4 that it found the following candidates qualified:

For the Court of Appeals:

• Hon. Chad Dotson
• Steven Emmert, Esq.
• Hon. Mary Jane Hall
• Hon. Gary Hicks
• Hon. Christopher Hutton
• Hon. Colleen Killilea
• Hon. Stacey Moreau
• Hon. Lorraine Nordlund
• Hon. Mary Grace O’Brien
• Wesley Russell, Esq.
• Hon. Josiah Showalter
• Hon. Robert Smith
• Virginia Thiesen, Esq.

For the Supreme Court:

• Coleman Allen, Esq.
• Hon. Rossie Alston
• Hon. Randolph Beales
• Steven Emmert, Esq.
• Hon. Mary Jane Hall
• Hon. Arthur Kelsey
• Hon. Stephen McCullough

According to the VADA, the following candidates submitted their material after the association’s deadline and were not considered:  Maureen Matsen, Esq.,  Hon. Richard Gardiner, Christy McCormick, Esq.

The Virginia Women Attorneys Association conveyed its endorsements in a Nov. 5 letter to legislators:

Supreme Court of Virginia

Highly Recommended:

• Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.
• Judge Randolph A. Beales
• L. Steven Emmert
• Judge Stephen R. McCullough

Qualified:

• W. Coleman Allen Jr.
• Christy McCormick

Court of Appeals of Virginia

Highly Recommended:

• L. Steven Emmert
• Judge Christopher W. Hutton
• Judge Mary Grace O’Brien
• Judge Josiah T. Showalter Jr.

Recommended:

• Judge Chadwick S. Dotson
• Judge Colleen K. Killilea
• Maureen R. Matsen
• Judge Stacey W. Moreau
• Patrcia P. Nagel
• Judge Lorraine Nordlund
• Judge Robert J. Smith
• Virginia B. Thieson

Qualified:

• Jason Eige
• Wesley Russell
• Elwood Sanders

Judge Gary A. Hicks submitted written materials and sought to interview with the VWAA screening committee. Due to problems with the group’s receipt of the materials, the group was unable to include him in the interviews, according to the VWAA.

This post has been updated several times from Oct. 22 through Nov. 5 to add recommendations from additional bar groups.