The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
The road to reappointment looks rocky for two South Hampton Roads judges.
Norfolk Circuit Judge Norman A. Thomas faced tough questions Friday from state lawmakers with the power to give him another eight-year term. Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge Ramona D. Taylor was not invited for an interview - the only judge with an expiring term to be so snubbed, according to a legislative official.
Members of the House Courts of Justice Committee pressed Thomas to explain his 2005 plea of no contest on a charge he violated a protective order obtained by his then-estranged wife.
Thomas told panel members the situation stemmed from an ugly divorce proceeding. He said his then-wife accused him of assault, took out a protective order against him and threatened to destroy his career.
Thomas testified he never touched her in a physically violent way. He said the charge of violating a protective order came about because, after being served the papers, he was slow to leave his home as he tended to personal affairs at the residence.
Responding to lawmakers' inquiries, Thomas insisted his plea didn't involve a personal admission of guilt or a stipulation there was enough evidence to convict him.
"I wanted to scrap it out. I wanted my name cleared on the merits. But something short of that came up, in terms of we won't have to try the case... and I took it," Thomas said, explaining that he opted not to go to trial to spare his children having to testify.
Thomas has been a Circuit Court judge since 2004.
In Virginia Beach, Taylor has served on the bench since 2000.
She was censured two years ago by the state Supreme Court, a rarity in Virginia, after the court determined that in 2007, she violated judicial standards when she blocked an appeal of her decision to detain a 15-year-old boy.
Thomas and Taylor both declined to comment Monday.
Judicial candidates must be certified by the General Assembly's courts committees to be eligible for election to the bench by legislators.
That seal of approval typically comes after committee interviews in the House and in the Senate, which hasn't yet scheduled meetings with judges up for re-election.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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The Legislature Should Atleast Hear from Judge Taylor
I am very familiar with Judge Taylor’s judicial performance. I appeared before her in hundreds of cases. I watched dozens of other attorneys try cases before her. She was always honest, ethical, and diligent in her duty to follow the law and to ensure a fair trial.
She has repeatedly admitted that she got the law wrong. She denies intentionally thwarting anyone’s rights. I have heard that she sought input from other judges and produced e-mails from fellow justices in VBJDRC who were also wrong on the legal point.
The legislature should afford her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf prior to taking adverse action against her. The Supreme Court did not find her unfit or remove her from the bench. It could have if it believed
Taylor
Blessed,
Correct,she did misinterpret the law and many of her colleagues agreed that the law was vague. Judges make mistakes! Once again, Judge Taylor was not censured for her misinterpretation of the law. After she made her "ruling", she blocked this child's lawyer from filing the necessary paperwork to appeal bond. She went "behind the scenes" to make every effort in her power to keep this child’s lawyer from moving forward with the appeal process. She also prevented her clerk from processing the paperwork for the appeal which was the clerk’s testimony in circuit court. There are so many details to this case that the public is unaware of. The VASC felt Taylor’s testimony was disingenuous and not supported by record. April 15th = last day!
Just more Political Posturing
A judge's seat in the Commonwealth is purely political. It's about WHO you know on the Judicial Committee nothing to do with your capabilities, experience or actions on the bench.
These two judges just didn't suck up to the right people. If they befriended Tommy Norment they would have gotten a personal escort by Tommy , with his arm around them " introducing them and providing his PERSONAL reference" for the judge.
Our system in Virginia is a disgrace, an insult to intelligent citizens.
We need to ELECT our judges, so it is an OPEN process. An 75 year old judge does not need to remain on the bench due to political connections when there are plenty of more capable and more knowledgeable candidates available to fill the positions.
She got exactly
She got exactly what she deserves and what everyone knew was coming. Heck, the House did not even give her the chance to be emabarassed publicly again! We've wasted enough time and tax payer money on this woman. She does not deserve to be a judge. Still, even after all this time and the rulings of the Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Judicial Inquiry and Review Committee, and Supreme Court of Virginia, she still thinks she did nothing wrong!! Ludicrous! Nonsensical! Absurd!
Good riddance!
Comment deleted
Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Post continued, repeated
I smell a rat.
I smell a rat.