How? By refusing to fill the judicial vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Court Judge Horace Revercomb on March 1st.
The General Assembly decided that instead of funding essential services like judges, they could save a few bucks by using substitute judges. They don’t care if that causes problems with continuity of leadership, if it makes it more difficult for the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to prosecute cases, or for defense attorneys to represent their clients.
Even more insulting that the General Assembly voted to increase fees for deed recordation (something done by the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office) and court fees. But did they decide to use that money to pay for judges? Of course not.
But what did the General Assembly have money for? The “Wine Promotion Fund” ($745,000), the “Motion Picture Opportunity Fund” ($1,000,000), and the “Governor’s Opportunity Fund” ($12,100,000). So, they have money for corporate welfare but not for essential services. They also refused to completely cut government funding for “arts” and “public broadcasting”.
The worst part? Three of the four people in the General Assembly that are supposed to be representing Caroline County and its citizens voted for this budget: Delegates Bobby Orrock, who lives in the county, and Chris Peace, and Senator Ryan McDougle. Hopefully the citizens of Caroline County remember this during the next election.
In the mean time, maybe us citizens should send a copy of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to our elected representatives.
And an aside, was Delegate Bobby Orrock busy chasing down the dreaded puppy mills while not giving two hoots about acquiring full-time funding for the Caroline County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office like in 2008?
Cross-posted at “I’m Surrounded By Idiots” and On The Right.
Filed under: 2011 Elections, Caroline County Politics, Virginia General Assembly
this is a move for all vacant judgeships. this will create hardships in many circuits. also consider this: the sub judges that help out the overworked circuits (the 11th comes to mind) will be helping these circuits with un-filled judgeships, too. in the end, there is less help to go around.
judges, unlike teachers, can’t bitch, whine & moan. in fact, their judicial ethics & rules of decorum prevent them from writing letters to the editor or even their Delegate/Senator.
thank you for writing this. no one ever thinks about the judges until they need one.
[...] VVer Tim Watson is miffed – to say the least – about the fact that the upcoming budget leaves Caroline County without a Circuit Court judge for two years. Tim found it especially galling that the judgeships are left vacant while over $13 million is [...]
[...] VVer Tim Watson is miffed – to say the least – about the fact that the upcoming budget leaves Caroline County without a Circuit Court judge for two years. Tim found it especially galling that the judgeships are left vacant while over $13 million is [...]