THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503300363
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Bernard G. Barrow, a Virginia Beach lawyer who rose through the legal ranks to the General Assembly, the Circuit Court and finally the state's second-highest court, died Tuesday in Charlottesville. He was 57.
Barrow was one of the 10 judges named to the Court of Appeals when it was created in 1985. He announced his retirement in January, to take effect June 1.
At that time, Barrow made no mention of health problems. He said that 15 years as a judge were enough.
``It's a very isolating job,'' Barrow said. ``You are constantly in the midst of disputes. After a period of time, it's easy to burn out. I'm not quite there yet, but I don't want to be.''
Barrow was hospitalized March 20 after suffering an irregular heartbeat and collapsing in his car while driving home from work.
Barrow began his career in 1965 by practicing admiralty law with the Norfolk firm of Vandeventer, Black, Meredith & Martin. He left in 1970 to become a sole practitioner, specializing in criminal defense work.
He joined with Frederick B. Lowe in 1974 to create the Virginia Beach law firm of Barrow and Lowe. Lowe also went on to become a Circuit Court judge.
Barrow served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1976-80.
In 1980, the General Assembly appointed Barrow to the Virginia Beach Circuit Court. Even then, Barrow complained about the isolation of the job, saying that lawyers who once were friendly now treated him with formality.
``I really felt it strongly, particularly among the younger members of the bar,'' Barrow said in a 1981 interview. ``I was regarded with a deference that was very unexpected.''
He earned a reputation as a liberal judge. In interviews, he said violent criminals should be sent to prison, but nonviolent criminals should not.
A plaque in his courthouse chamber said, ``Be just and fear not.''
In 1985, when the Court of Appeals was created as a buffer to the Virginia Supreme Court, Barrow was one of 10 judges appointed. Two others from Hampton Roads - Joseph Baker of Norfolk, who is still on the court, and William Hodges of Chesapeake - were also appointed.
Barrow worked in an office across the street from the Virginia Beach Municipal Center until 1990, when he moved to Charlottesville.
In 1987, he was one of three judges endorsed for the Virginia Supreme Court by the Virginia State Bar, but did not get the appointment.
In January, Barrow said he would spend the first six months of retirement finishing a doctoral dissertation, but had no specific plans after that. He taught appellate procedures at his alma mater, the University of Virginia law school.
He is survived by his wife, Sherri; a son, Bernard G. Barrow Jr. of Atlanta; a daughter, Isabel Barrow of Charlottesville; and two brothers, William A. Barrow of Richmond and James A. Barrow of Hampton.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Charlottesville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be sent to the Judge Bernard G. Barrow Scholarship, University of Virginia Fund, P.O. Box 3446, Charlottesville, Va. 22903. by CNB