ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 29, 1995 TAG: 9512290066
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
After leaving his job earlier this month as assistant prosecutor in Roanoke, Joel Branscom immediately began making the transition to chief prosecuting officer in Botetourt County.
Last week, outgoing Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Hagan let him weigh in on the decision to let another jurisdiction handle an investigation of Sheriff Reed Kelly.
"Rob called me and asked what my opinion was," Branscom said Thursday, the day he was sworn in by Judge George Honts at the county's courthouse in Fincastle.
"I felt Joel should make the final call," Hagan said.
The transition will be complete Tuesday when Branscom officially begins his 4-year term. Branscom was the Republican challenger who defeated Hagan, a one-term Democrat, in the November general elections.
Hagan, who was peeling off the wallpaper in his office Thursday, said he anticipates a smooth transition when the office changes hands next week.
"I assume we're in good shape," he said.
But that transition won't be a revolution.
Branscom has said that he isn't looking to make a multitude of changes once he takes office, but notes that there are a couple of things he wants to see done.
The first is making the part-time assistant Commonwealth's Attorney into a full-time position.
Branscom said it's hard for attorneys to justify carrying on the obligations of an assistant prosecutor while running a private practice.
He points to the rapid turnover rate in the position.
Dirk Padgett, for example, left the part-time Botetourt County position this month for the full-time job of Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Bedford County.
Hagan will continue to practice law in Botetourt County. He will open a private law practice in Daleville, specializing in personal injury cases.
Hagan had a general law practice for 14 years while serving as part-time assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Botetourt County.
Going from the prosecution job to his private practice will be a lifted burden, he said.
"A Commonwealth's Attorney has to fill the role of heavyweight," Hagan said, balancing justice for the victim and compassion for the accused.
"That's a burden I'll be happy to lay down," said Hagan, who will begin his practice next week.
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: CINDY PINKSTON/Staff. Joel Branscom, Commonwealth'sby CNBAttorney for Botetourt County, is sworn in by Judge George Honts
Thursday as Branscom's wife, Ann Gardner, holds the Bible.