THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610190234
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARC DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 44 lines
The Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association has endorsed one candidate as ``highly qualified'' and three others as ``qualified'' for a vacant judgeship in Norfolk Circuit Court.
The seat came open last month when Judge Luther C. Edmonds resigned. Gov. George F. Allen will appoint a new judge later this month or early next month, Secretary of the Commonwealth Betsy D. Beamer said Friday.
Eleven lawyers have applied for the job.
On Friday, the bar association endorsed Joseph P. Massey, a lawyer who lives in Norfolk but works in Portsmouth, as ``highly qualified.'' The group also endorsed Carter B.S. Furr, I. Lionel Hancock III and Judge William P. Williams of General District Court as ``qualified.''
Earlier this week, the South Hampton Roads Bar Association, a black lawyers group, endorsed two candidates: Judge Gwendolyn Jones Jackson of General District Court and Junius P. Fulton III.
Also, the Virginia State Legislative Black Caucus has asked Allen to appoint a black to replace Edmonds, who is black. The group did not endorse any candidate. The Circuit Court now has seven white judges and one black judge.
Norfolk's state senators and delegates were expected to endorse a candidate this week but did not. The delegation - six Democrats and one Republican - is reportedly leaning toward Fulton, but could not reach a consensus.
The delegation probably will make a recommendation later this month, said House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr., a Norfolk Democrat.
Other lawyers who have applied for the judgeship are: R. Wayne Nunnally, Kent P. Porter, Troy R. Spencer and Bruce A. Wilcox. Paul E. Sutton II applied earlier, then withdrew. One more candidate is under consideration, Beamer said, but she could not release his or her name.
Judges usually are appointed by the General Assembly. The governor will make the appointment this time because the judge's seat came open unexpectedly between sessions of the General Assembly.
That presents a tricky political problem. Allen is Republican; the Norfolk delegation is mostly Democratic. If Allen's appointee isn't acceptable to Norfolk's senators and delegates, they could appoint a different permanent replacement when the General Assembly meets in three months. by CNB