Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1993 TAG: 9312150170
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Barbour, 36, received the majority of votes after a second ballot pitted him against Woody Lookabill, the county's Circuit Court clerk.
Other candidates for the endorsement were: Colin Gibb, a Giles County lawyer who has received endorsements from the Giles, Wythe and Bland county bar associations; Wayne Sawyers, a Dublin lawyer; Everett Shockley, commonwealth's attorney for Pulaski County; and Frank Terwilliger, attorney for the town of Pulaski.
After Barbour became the clear winner, the Bar Association voted to endorse him unanimously as its choice to replace Judge A. Dow Owens, who is retiring June 30 as a judge for the 27th Judicial Circuit.
The Montgomery-Floyd-Radford Bar Association - the circuit's largest - will meet Thursday to endorse candidates to replace Owens and retiring Circuit Judge Kenneth Devore.
The Grayson County-Galax and Carroll County bar associations will meet in January to make endorsements.
Owens generally presides in Pulaski and Giles counties. Devore, who is retiring at the end of January, generally hears cases in Montgomery and Floyd counties.
There are three announced candidates to replace Devore: J. Patrick Graybeal, a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge and former Montgomery County commonwealth's attorney; Ray Grubbs, a General District Court judge serving primarily in Montgomery County and Radford; and Douglas E. Brinckman, a Christiansburg lawyer and tenured faculty member at Radford University.
After the local bar associations endorse candidates, the Courts of Justice Committee interviews the candidates. Then the Democratic caucuses of the House and Senate make recommendations, which are sent to the entire General Assembly for approval.
Barbour, originally from Fries in Grayson County, began practicing law in Pulaski County in 1982. He is associated with the law firm of Gilmer Sadler Ingram Sutherland & Hutton. Barbour is a graduate of the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond.
Before the Pulaski County bar's vote Tuesday, the candidates gave brief remarks outlining their qualifications and why they thought they should become judge.
Barbour said legal and intellectual abilities are important but not sufficient. He promised his fellow lawyers that he would "treat everyone in a fair and even-handed way," showing respect and an even temperament as an arbitrator of disputes.
Barbour said he has too often heard people leave courtrooms complaining that "they do not feel they were adequately heard."
Gibb, 44, has practiced law in Giles County for 18 years and is a partner in the firm of Warren Gibb and Scheid. Gibb also is a graduate of the T.C. Williams School of Law.
He promised that if he became judge, he would have an open-door policy and seek out lawyers' suggestions for improving courtroom practices.
by CNB