VSB panel rates Court of Appeals candidates

Two candidates emerged unopposed among eight considered “highly qualified” for a seat on the Court of Appeals in rankings by the Virginia State Bar’s Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee.

Fairfax County Circuit Judge David Bernhard was listed as “highly qualified” by a 12-0 vote. Pittsylvania County Circuit Judge Stacey W. Moreau earned the same designation based on a 16-0 vote when she sought a Court of Appeals seat in 2014.

Other candidates deemed “highly qualified” by the bar panel are state Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Carlos L. Hopkins, Workers Compensation Commissioner Wesley G. Marshall, Chesterfield County Circuit Judge Steven C. McCallum, Fairfax County Circuit Judge Daniel E. Ortiz, former state Solicitor General Stuart A. Raphael and Wythe County Circuit Judge Joey Showalter Jr.

Deemed “qualified” by the bar panel are Fairfax Circuit Judge Richard E. Gardiner, Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge Jan Roltsch-Anoll, and Stafford County Circuit Judge Victoria A.B. Willis.

The bar’s vote counts are here. The VSB’s judicial evaluation panel met Feb. 19 to interview 16 candidates for the Court of Appeals seat, vacated by Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. when he moved to the federal bench last year.

The General Assembly is expected to vote later this month to elect judges to open seats.