ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997 TAG: 9704140091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORFOLK
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The suit alleges a conspiracy by Norfolk's mostly white judiciary and judicial commission to force Edmonds, who is black, out of office.
A former circuit judge has filed a federal civil suit against his former colleagues and a state commission, charging them with defamation and discrimination.
In his suit, filed Friday, former Norfolk Circuit Judge Luther C. Edmonds, who resigned last year in the midst of a state Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission investigation into his fitness, asked for $40 million in compensatory damages, $10 million in punitive damages and his job back.
No judge has ever sued the judicial commission, a watchdog agency that investigates complaints against state judges and can recommend their expulsion.
The suit alleges a conspiracy by Norfolk's mostly white judiciary, the mostly white judicial commission, and others to force Edmonds, who is black, out of office. Edmonds claims the conspiracy was in retaliation for his investigation into alleged discrimination by the judges against black bail bondsmen.
Edmonds is representing himself in the suit.
None of those named in the suit would comment.
The commission, which meets behind closed doors and does not reveal the details of its investigation, was probing charges that Edmonds improperly heard cases involving a woman with whom he had a relationship. Edmonds has denied any relationship with the woman, a bail bondswoman.
The woman, Sherry Battle, last year sued 10 current and former Norfolk judges and three court clerks, accusing them of race discrimination in suspending her bail bonding license. The case was dismissed in February on a technicality before it got to trial.
Edmonds said Friday he resigned in the midst of the hearing because his wife was recovering from heart surgery and feared the pressure of the hearing would kill her. Commission hearings are closed, and those involved are prohibited by law from revealing any details.
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB