THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 25, 1995 TAG: 9502250228
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Norfolk Circuit Judge Lydia C. Taylor has failed in her bid to become an appeals court judge.
The General Assembly's Democratic Caucus has bypassed Taylor and chosen Circuit Judge Rosemarie Annunziata of Fairfax County to fill a vacancy on the Virginia Court of Appeals.
The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Bernard G. Barrow, formerly of Virginia Beach.
The full General Assembly will vote on the appointment today. Annunziata is sure to get the job because Democrats control both houses of the legislature.
The General Assembly also will make a second appointment to the Court of Appeals today, to replace Chief Judge Lawrence L. Koontz Jr., who will be promoted to the Virginia Supreme Court.
Democrats are split on Koontz's replacement. The Senate backs Hampton Commonwealth's Attorney Christopher W. Hutton. The House supports Hopewell lawyer James J. Vergara Jr.
Oddly, neither Hutton nor Vergara got many endorsements from statewide bar groups. Vergara got none. Hutton was endorsed by two: the Virginia Bar Association and the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, of which he is president.
By contrast, Taylor and another candidate - Circuit Judge Roy B. Willett of Roanoke - were endorsed by six statewide bar groups. Annunziata got five endorsements.
In other news from Richmond:
For Norfolk, the Democrats endorsed Ray W. Dezern Jr., Katherine Howe Jones and Louis A. Sherman for General District Court.
Dezern, 49, is a partner in the Norfolk firm of Knight, Dudley, Dezern & Clarke. He has been a substitute judge since 1991 and is past president of the Virginia Symphony. He was endorsed as ``highly qualified'' by the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association.
Jones, 43, is an assistant city attorney in Norfolk, specializing in collections and consumer law. She has been practicing law for 16 years. She did not apply for the bar association's endorsement.
Sherman, 48, is a partner in the Norfolk firm of Gould & Sherman. He is first vice president of the Norfolk City Democratic Committee and former executive director of the Tidewater Legal Aid Society. He was not endorsed by the bar association this year, but got a ``qualified'' rating last year.
Democrats also endorsed, as expected, Judges Luther Edmonds, Marc Jacobson and Everett Martin for promotion to Circuit Court, and Joan Skeppstrom for Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
For Chesapeake, a new judgeship will be created in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Gov. George F. Allen signed the legislation Thursday. Five candidates were interviewed for the job. The appointment will be made today.
Democrats also endorsed, as expected, S. Bernard Goodwyn for General District Court, to replace Judge V. Thomas Forehand Jr., who will move up to Circuit Court.
For Suffolk, a new judgeship will be created in General District Court. Two candidates are being considered: Carl E. Eason Jr. and Robert E. Gillette. The appointment will be made today.
For Virginia Beach, there will be no new judgeship in juvenile court. One was proposed earlier, but eliminated from the budget. The Virginia Beach Bar Association had endorsed Bobby W. Davis for the job. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Norfolk Judge Lydia C. Taylor has been bypassed in favor of a
Fairfax County judge.
KEYWORDS: JUDGESHIPS APPOINTMENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY by CNB