THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997 TAG: 9702070535
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 60 lines
As expected, an eighth assistant joined the staff of Commonwealth's Attorney C. Phillips Ferguson recently to assist with the expanding case load in a growing city.
Ferguson had hired a new attorney to concentrate on sexual assault and child sexual abuse cases.
But unexpectedly, the new staff member is Ramona D. Baldwin, a veteran prosecutor with a background in nursing and her eye on a judicial appointment.
Baldwin started work in late January, Ferguson said this week after returning from a two-week vacation.
In November, he had named Linda E. Salmon, thanks to additional funding through the Juvenile Justice Reform Act. But just before she was to start work in January, Salmon backed out.
Enter Baldwin - also experienced in the types of cases Ferguson had targeted, and also - unexpectedly - available for work.
``She has an extensive background and experience as a prosecutor,'' Ferguson said. ``I feel she will be a real asset to this office.''
Baldwin has handled numerous sexual assault cases as well as other types of crimes, including murder, Ferguson said.
``I feel very confident that she will do an outstanding job,'' he said.
Baldwin, 40, had been fired in November from a similar post in Virginia Beach after asking that a rape cape she was prosecuting be reassigned because of a conflict of interest.
Baldwin, who had been an assistant commonwealth's attorney 7 1/2 years, claimed the case was too similar to a pending case involving her husband. Several police officers investigated both cases.
After she was fired, she filed a $1 million lawsuit alleging racial discrimination by her former boss, Robert J. Humphreys.
Ferguson said what happened in another locality is irrelevant and highly praised Baldwin, a Philadelphia native and graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Baldwin is a 14-year court veteran. Before coming to Virginia, she had been a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, a supervising staff attorney for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and a civil arbitrator in Philadelphia County court of common pleas.
Ferguson said, ``I am pleased to have the opportunity to hire her.''
Baldwin also has a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Her nursing career included a year at the Hospital of the University of Philadelphia before entering law school and a part-time job for three years at Tidewater Psychiatric Institute in Virginia Beach, working with children and adolescents.
She has also taught legal research at Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach.
Baldwin's name has been offered twice before for a judgeship. She is now pursuing a Virginia Beach General District Court seat to replace retiring Judge John B. Preston.
That appointment should be announced before the General Assembly adjourns on Feb. 22.
Meanwhile, Baldwin said she is pleased with the position in Suffolk and the community's welcome.