THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503250096
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 125 lines
EILEEN ANITA OLDS is on top of the world, as she eyes the vista of the municipal center from the balcony of her new chambers in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
``This is, like, phenomenal,'' she said, leaning her 37-year-old, 5-foot-2 frame over the thick concrete structure. ``You can see all of the other courts.''
It's a far cry from her trying days as a young lawyer struggling to start a solo practice in a city where few female attorneys and even fewer black attorneys appeared in front of the bench.
``It's been a real challenge,'' she said, sitting back in her Great Bridge office, surrounded by plaques and awards, boasting nine successful years in her private practice of criminal defense and domestic relations work.
``When I first started practicing, I was a foreign concept . . . . It was hell.
``The initial response wasn't to assume I was a lawyer,'' she said, remembering how she would return home at night in tears feeling isolated and lonely.
``Judges would say, `Come on now, little lady. We're going to try your case,' '' she said.
``I felt like I wasn't wanted,'' she said. ``For a long time, I was clearly the only female, black or white (in private criminal defense work).''
And now, she's still standing alone, but this time, as the city's first female to sit on the bench.
Her appointment, which begins July 1 in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, is a long time coming for a city that has never had a black judge or a female judge, although African-Americans comprise nearly one-third of the population.
Two years after black leaders in Chesapeake claimed they were snubbed when legislators failed to appoint an African-American to the bench, community leaders were ready this time when Circuit Court Judge William L. Forbes announced his retirement in January. When state legislators promoted General District Judge V. Thomas Forehand to Circuit Court, it created a vacancy in General District Court.
``The concern has been expressed now for a good long while that we did not have any representation on the bench,'' said Hugo Owens, one of the first blacks to be elected to the City Council. ``We thought we were way past time for this to happen.''
Olds, who was familiar to Chesapeake politics, was an obvious choice, many assumed, to change the face of the city's all-white, all-male judiciary.
At the age of 26, she became one of the youngest persons elected president of the Chesapeake branch of the NAACP from 1984 to 1988.
In private practice since 1986, she specialized in criminal defense. A year earlier, she had been appointed as legal counsel to the State Department of Highways and Transportation by then-Attorney General Gerald Baliles.
And in 1993, in a markedly negative and bitter campaign, Olds narrowly lost the Democratic primary for the 77th District seat in the House of Delegates to Lionell Spruill Sr.
But her judicial nomination led to an acrimonious debate within the black community, as contenders for the vacancy were narrowed to just three African-Americans - Olds, Assistant City Attorney Leonard Brown and Chesapeake substitute Judge S. Bernard Goodwyn.
Community support was divided, but legislators selected Goodwyn to fill the District Court seat.
Then, because of an increased caseload in the city's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Gov. George Allen approved the funding of a third judgeship there. Olds was selected for the new position.
``The (1993) campaign was not nearly as grueling as these last few months,'' Olds quipped. ``. . . It was a roller coaster ride.''
Her most vocal support came from the NAACP, which, although a non-partisan group, pressed Chesapeake's predominantly black, Democratic caucus to secure Olds' appointment.
``There was grave concern among the black community as to what impact would be had if Eileen Olds was not awarded a judgeship,'' said Paul Gillis, Area II chairman for the NAACP and a longtime Olds supporter. ``I made a promise to myself and others: If, in fact, she was not (appointed), I would work against the re-election of certain officials in that district.''
Olds, a native of Salisbury, N.C., moved to Norfolk when she was less than a year old. Her mother Frances, twin sister Francine and older sister Joan, later moved to Providence Square in Chesapeake when she was 6, after her parents divorced. Her mother worked as a schoolteacher.
As sixth-graders, she and her sister were two of the first five blacks to integrate Georgetown Elementary School. Olds was class president and graduated fifth in her high school class.
She entered the University of Virginia in 1975, only five years after women were granted equal admission. In 1982, she was one of four blacks to graduate from the College of William and Mary.
``She's got a great deal of compassion and a great deal of common sense, and I think that's very important,'' said Laura Everhart, president of the Chesapeake Bar Association, who was also a candidate for the Juvenile Court judgeship.
``And she knows the law, and that's important, too,'' said Everhart, one of Olds' William and Mary law school classmates.
But in spite of her accomplishments, Olds has had setbacks, including two accidents that contributed to the problem of paying taxes on her business and home - a sore subject during her 1983 campaign.
``It has not been an easy road for me,'' Olds admitted. ``But, luckily, I was equipped with whatever it took to get through.''
Now, she's looking forward to presiding from the bench, in spite of her bittersweet memories of appearing in front of it as a legal practitioner.
``My priority would be to bring some intervention to troubled families and troubled youths,'' said Olds, who is not married and has no children but boasts her new status as a great-aunt.
``I've had some varied experiences that will make me a better judge,'' she said.
``My exposure makes me open-minded and brings a fresher approach to the bench.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
Two New Judges For Chesapeake
[Color Photo]
Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Eileen Olds of Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
``When I first started practicing, I was a foreign concept. . . .It
was hell. The initial response wasn't to assume I was a lawyer.
Judges would say, `Come on now, little lady. We're going to try your
case.'' - Eileen Anita Olds
KEYWORDS: PROFILE BIOGRAPHY JUDGESHIP APPOINTMENT by CNB