Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 28, 1993                   TAG: 9304280254
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LAWYER BACKED FOR JUDGESHIP

Ferguson was recommended for the job by the Salem-Roanoke County Bar Association, according to President Randy Leach.

The Roanoke Bar Association is scheduled to meet today to select its choice for the judgeship, which became vacant this month when Fred Hoback Jr. took early retirement for health reasons.

The valley's five Circuit Court judges will select a judge to serve until the position is filled permanently by the General Assembly at its next session. Chief Judge Kenneth Trabue said the judges hope to make an appointment by May 7.

The judges had asked the two bar associations to submit three candidates, but Leach said the Salem-Roanoke County's bylaws allowed only one.

Although some lawyers considered Hoback's seat to be a Roanoke County position, the three juvenile court judges usually rotate among the three jurisdictions of the 23rd Judicial Circuit - Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem.

Ferguson, 45, is a Roanoke native who worked as a foster-care case worker before earning his law degree from the University of Richmond's T.C. Williams Law School in 1979. He has maintained a general practice since.

Ferguson was a candidate for the last opening on the juvenile court, in 1988. Other candidates for Hoback's position include Roanoke County lawyer Burton Albert, Roanoke lawyer Tom Dickenson, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Hill, Roanoke County lawyer Evelyn Krippendorf, Salem lawyer Vincent Lilley, Roanoke lawyer John Molumphy, and Salem lawyer Ellen Weinman.