Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 2, 1995 TAG: 9510020034
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
At a campaign news conference last week, he called for putting a limit on punitive damages in civil suits - apparently unaware that Virginia has had such a cap, among the lowest in the nation, since 1988.
Oh well. That little problem aside, Bell did have two good points to make.
The first has to do with litigation and lawyers. The cap notwithstanding, we do have a problem in this country with excessive litigation.
The mentality of suing for every grievance not only raises businesses' costs, thus diminishing economic competitiveness and increasing consumer prices. It also is corrosive to our culture, by discouraging risk-taking.
And, yes, trial lawyers are disproportionately influential in most state capitals - Virginia's included.
Bell's second good point was his criticism of the current system for picking judges in Virginia: that is, selection by the General Assembly's Democratic majorities.
While the Roanoke Valley happens to enjoy a competent judiciary, that hasn't always been true everywhere in the state - and partisan cronyism has played a role.
Calls for merit selection of judges once was a staple in GOP legislative campaigns. Now that visions of majorities for themselves dance in Republicans' heads, these calls seem muted. Give Bell credit for keeping the issue alive.
Now, if only he'd do a better job on his homework.
by CNB