The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, January 28, 1995             TAG: 9501280210
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   51 lines

SHUFFLE GIVES PORTSMOUTH FIRST WOMAN ON BENCH AND AN OPENING IN CHESAPEAKE MAY GO TO THE CITY'S FIRST BLACK OR FEMALE JUDGE.

Portsmouth got its first female judge, and chances improved for Chesapeake to get its first black or female judge, after the General Assembly appointed and reappointed 39 judges statewide Thursday.

In the process, a lower-court judge was promoted to Circuit Court in each of those cities.

In Chesapeake, General District Judge V. Thomas Forehand Jr. was promoted to Circuit Court.

The former Democratic state delegate will replace Judge William L. Forbes, who is retiring after 20 years on the bench, the last 15 in Circuit Court.

Forehand, who served in the General Assembly for 14 years, will start an eight-year term in Circuit Court on July 1. He has been a General District judge for just 1 1/2 years.

The move leaves a vacancy in Chesapeake's General District Court in addition to a new judgeship that legislators probably will create in Chesapeake's Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Black political leaders, hoping to diversify the city's judiciary, have pushed to ensure that at least one black attorney is appointed to the bench this year. Now they may have a chance to seat two.

Several contenders have emerged, including lawyers Leonard Brown, Bernard Goodwyn, Eileen Olds and Timothy S. Wright.

Also in Chesapeake, Judge James A. Leftwich was reappointed to a six-year term in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

In Portsmouth, senior Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Alotha C. Willis became the city's first female judge. She was appointed to a six-year term in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, starting Feb. 16.

She replaces Judge Von L. Piersall Jr., who was promoted to Portsmouth Circuit Court for an eight-year term, also starting Feb. 16.

In Virginia Beach, Circuit Judge Kenneth N. Whitehurst was reappointed for eight years. General District Judge J. Dale Bimson was reappointed for six years.

In Isle of Wight County, Judge William R. Moore Jr. was reappointed for six years in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

In Norfolk, legislators are expected to decide on several judgeships next week.

KEYWORDS: JUDGESHIPS APPOINTMENTS GENERAL ASSEMBLY by CNB