THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603060627
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAVID POOLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Virginia Beach lawmakers dropped unmistakable clues Tuesday that former Sen. A. Joe Canada Jr. is their favored candidate for a new judgeship in the city's juvenile and domestic relations court.
Three Beach representatives were so complimentary when they introduced the Republican to the House Courts Committee that Canada blushed, ``I may just run for office again.''
Still, Canada's appointment is no sure thing.
There is a distinct possibility the members of the General Assembly could leave town Saturday without being able to agree upon nominees for many of 15 judicial vacancies, including the one in Virginia Beach.
``I'd say there's a 50-50 chance we'll do something,'' said Del. Glenn R. Croshaw, D-Virginia Beach.
Many of the judicial appointments may be washed out by agathering storm over new Senate rules that give Republicans their first say in electing judges.
Because House Democrats still consider it their prerogative to name judges, they have vowed to block any judicial nominee with ties to the Republican Party.
That casts a cloud of doubt over potential nominees like Canada, a GOP activist who served in the Virginia Senate from 1972 to 1988.
The drama is expected to peak Friday, the day before the Assembly's scheduled adjournment.
Tuesday, three lawyers from Virginia Beach traveled to the General Assembly Building to have their credentials reviewed by two legislative courts committees.
In addition to Canada, the candidates were Ramona Baldwin, an assistant prosecutor in Virginia Beach, and S. Catherine Dodson, a deputy prosecutor in Norfolk.
Three other lawyers who were invited did not attend. Among the no-shows was Albert Alberi, the chief deputy prosecutor in Virginia Beach.
Canada, 56, is the favorite of the Beach's Republican delegation. GOP lawmakers already have signed a letter recommending him. Sens. Edward L. Schrock and Kenneth W. Stolle gushed about Canada when introducing him Tuesday to the Senate Courts Committee.
Stolle reminded the committee that he became a lawyer not by attending law school, but by reading the law under Canada's guidance.
``He is the one - for better or worse - who taught me what I know about the law,'' Stolle said.
Beach Republicans defended their choice of a former legislator, after decades of accusing Democrats of using the judicial selection process to reward political friends.
``I don't think we are doing the same thing,'' said Del. Leo C. Wardrup Jr.
``We will be subjected to that criticism no matter what I say,'' Del. Robert F. McDonnell said.
Del. Frank W. Wagner acknowledged frustration that the Assembly's tight schedule did not allow Beach lawmakers to cast a wider net for candidates. In fact, the city's bar association did not have time to endorse candidates.
``Given the list we came up with, Joe is as qualified as any other candidate,'' Wagner said.
For Canada, the question is whether the House Democrats would stomach his appointment.
Virginia Beach's lone Democratic legislator, Del. Glenn R. Croshaw, said he would bow to the GOP choice. ``If we are truly going to share power, this is how to do it.''
But Del. William P. Robinson Jr., a Norfolk Democrat whose district includes a tiny portion of Virginia Beach, predicted a fight in the House Democratic Caucus.
Robinson is promoting Baldwin, who would be the first black woman to become a judge in Virginia Beach.
``We need a diverse judiciary that mirrors the city's population,'' Baldwin said Tuesday as she waited for one of her judicial interviews
If the Senate and House Democrats cannot agree on a candidate, the Assembly won't be able to appoint the judge.
The task would fall to the city's chief circuit judge.
Stolle was confident the two chambers would reach an agreement by Saturday. ``It's in our best interest to do so,'' he said.
KEYWORDS: JUDGESHIPS VIRGINIA BEACH by CNB