Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 14, 1994 TAG: 9401140122
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
John Buck, a former Radford City Commonwealth's Attorney, and John Quigley, a Christiansburg lawyer in private practice, are vying for the judgeship that will be vacated when Ray Grubbs likely is appointed as a Circuit Court judge to replace the retiring Kenneth Devore.
Both Buck and Quigley have served as substitute judges in the lower courts.
Buck, a long-time active Democrat, was Radford's commonwealth's attorney for 28 years. He has served as a substitute judge for four years. He has said that should he be named General District Court judge, he would only serve for five years.
Quigley has practiced law for 15 years, serving as a substitute judge for seven years. He was with the firm Jenkins and Quigley before opening his office in Christiansburg.
Buck has obtained endorsements from the bar associations in Carroll, Grayson and Pulaski counties. Quigley has the support of the Montgomery-Floyd-Radford bar and Giles and Bland counties. The Wythe County Bar Association split its endorsements between the men.
"Now we go to the General Assembly," Quigley said Wednesday after the Pulaski County bar voted.
After the local bar associations endorse candidates, the Courts of Justice Committee interviews candidates, then the Democratic caucuses of the House and Senate make a recommendation which is then sent to the entire General Assembly for approval.
The judicial district covers the counties of Montgomery, Floyd, Giles, Pulaski, Wythe, Bland, Grayson and Carroll, plus the cities of Galax and Radford.
The General Assembly also will be appointing two Circuit Court judges to serve the 27th Judicial Circuit. Judge Kenneth Devore, who sits primarily in Montgomery and Floyd counties - is retiring from the bench at the end of this month. Judge Dow Owens, who sits in Pulaski and Giles counties, is retiring in June.
Judge Ray Grubbs is the only candidate for Devore's seat. Grubbs, a general district court judge serving Radford, Montgomery County and Bland, was the winner in a three-way race for the endorsement of the Montgomery-Floyd-Radford Bar Association.
Colin Gibb, a Giles County lawyer, has received most of the endorsements to replace Owens. Bar Associations in Montgomery-Floyd-Radford, Giles, Wythe, Bland, Carroll and Grayson counties have endorsed Gibb while Michael Barbour, a Pulaski County lawyer, received the support of his bar association.
Barbour is still mulling his options - whether to take the issue to the General Assembly or to bow out of the race.
Generally, it boils down to political support.
In both the district and circuit court judgeship races, candidates are reluctant to reveal which legislators they have lined up to support their ascension to the bench.
Mary Giesen, director of legislative services, says Richmond has been watching the 27th Circuit for several years now, curious as to when Devore and Owens would retire and who would try to replace them. Both are in their mid-60s.
"The kings are getting older and the princes are getting restless," Giesen said last month.
Many lawyers, including the judge-candidates, say the tone of the area courts could be set for the next 20 years or more with these Circuit Court appointments. Gibb is 44, Barbour is 36 and Grubbs is 50.
The new General Assembly session began Wednesday, but the Courts of Justice committee is not scheduled to take up judgeship issues until after Feb. 1.
Circuit judgeship terms generally expire Jan. 31, so there are several judges across the state who retire before the Courts of Justice Committee interviews their potential replacements, Giesen said. But if there are unopposed candidates - such as Grubbs appears to be - Giesen said the Courts of Justice may be able to get them in office sooner.
Grubbs said his understanding is that the state Supreme Court will likely appoint an interim judge for Devore's seat until an appointment is made - probably by mid-March.
by CNB