Legislative business in the Virginia Senate ground to a halt today, 1/24/12, over a measure to re-elect nearly four dozen judges who are currently serving on the bench. But the resolution also added two new jurists to fill vacancies before the Senators parted company.
The House had approved the judges without dissent—including the new ones, former Democratic Delegate Bud Phillips and former GOP Delegate Clay Athey. When Senate Republicans could not get a motion approved to vote on the measure, Majority Leader Tommie Norment explained that the Senate must work with the House… and the rules forbid any further business until the matter is resolved. He noted other consequences. “A number of these judges are going to have their terms expire and they are in many of your jurisdictions,” said Norment.
Democratic Leader Dick Saslaw countered that his caucus was not at fault. “All he needs to do is just remove those two names and we’re back to business. That’s all he has to do. We’re not holding it up. We’ve announced for days what our situation is,” said Saslaw.
The Senate took a recess, then met and failed to pass it again. The House approved a rule change to postpone final action until Thursday, 1/26/12. The Senate also voted to change the rule and postpone the final vote on judges until Thursday–so that it could conduct other legislative business in the meantime.
–Anne Marie Morgan
Virginia Public Radio 