THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410270441
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JUNE ARNEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Two of Norfolk's nine Circuit Court judges have announced plans to retire March 1.
Judges Thomas R. McNamara and Robert W. Stewart, who have been on the bench since 1976, sent letters on Friday notifying legislators of their intentions to step down.
McNamara, 69, will have served as a judge for 19 years when he retires.
``I think there are a lot of people who think it's high time I got out of the way,'' he said. ``I'm going to miss it very much, but there is this program by which retired judges can sit now and then. I intend to welcome any such invitation to sit here and there.''
He and his wife hope to spend more time at their house in Highland County.
McNamara was a member of the House of Delegates from 1968 to 1971 and served in the state Senate until 1976.
McNamara, a native of Evanston, Ill., moved to Norfolk with his family in 1932. He attended Maury High School and is a 1949 graduate of Virginia Military Institute. He received his law degree from Washington and Lee University.
McNamara was appointed to the state Water Control Board in April 1975 and was elected chairman the following July. He served in this position until his Circuit Court appointment in January 1976.
Stewart, 64, hopes to spend more time with his family.
``I certainly enjoyed my career as a judge,'' he said. ``It's been rewarding and challenging. I'm moving on to another phase of life.''
Stewart, who was born in Savannah, Ga., graduated from Maury High School, the College of William and Mary and its Marshall-Wythe School of Law.
He served in the Marine Corps from 1953 to 1956. He is a retired captain in the Marine Corps Reserve.
He was an assistant city attorney from 1956 to 1959, when he entered private practice with the law firm of Worthington, White & Harper. When that firm dissolved, he joined the firm of Stackhouse, Weinberg & Stewart. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Thomas R. McNamara
Robert W. Stewart
by CNB