The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 5, 1996                  TAG: 9607040004
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A8   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   26 lines

BEACH BAR DEEMED NO ONE NOT QUALIFIED

This letter addresses inaccuracies contained in the March 3 and March 6 news articles concerning the Virginia Beach Bar Association's vote for judgeships. The articles indicated that a 1994 Virginia Beach Bar Association vote rated a specific candidate ``not qualified.''

Before a candidate is considered for judicial office by a vote of bar members, the board of directors determines first whether each candidate is qualified for judicial office in accordance with state requirements. The vote is taken by secret ballot, and the candidates receiving a percentage of votes over 50 percent are all endorsed for the judicial vacancy.

I cannot comment on why the Virginia Beach Bar Association failed to endorse any individual, because the vote is taken by secret ballot.

The board of directors does not address any other aspects of your two articles except that the Virginia Beach Bar vote did not rate any candidate not qualified for judicial office.

JUDITH L. ROSENBLATT

President

Virginia Beach Bar Association

Virginia Beach, June 5, 1996 by CNB