Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 6 of 7 · from the scan, no model involved
called later in the year to elect the judges. Before that could happen, however, it was necessary for the Democratic caucuses of the two houses to meet and agree on the nominees.
The caucuses met in June, but could agree on only four names. The hang-up over the remaining six continues with no resolution in sight. As this is written the caucus leaders of the House and Senate say no meetings are presently planned because no agreement on the nominees has been reached.
The embarrassment over the situation became acute on Oct. 1. - The reason: On that date the court officially went into business. The justices are supposed to start hearing cases the tint of the year, but it is still a paper court without judges.
Gov. Chuck Robb could resolve the situation by exercising his authority to make recess appointments of the justices. The governor can do this when the legislature is not in session subject to the confirmation of the General Assembly when the lawmakers return to Richmond. Robb, however, has declined to exercise this option. He says it’s a legislative matter, which indeed it is.
And so far the legislature or, more precisely, the Democratic caucuses of the legislature, have made a royal hash of it.
Opponents of the court say that if the lawmakers can’t get together by the time the 1985 session of the General Assembly convenes in January, legislation repealing the court will be introduced. Indeed, Sen. William Fears (D-Accomac) has prefiled a measure which would do just that. Although he is an attorney, he argues that the court is simply a device for getting lawyers more business and serves no legitimate public need.
However valid that argument may or may not be, it is clear that in the minds of the legislators the urgency of getting the justices elected is less important than the politics involved in electing them. If that is the case the need for the court would not appear to be particularly urgent.
And if it is not, then the western world’s oldest deliberative body might save itself further embarrassment; and the taxpayers of the Commonwealth rhight be better served, if the honorables in the General Assembly simply dropped the whole Intermediate Court idea when they convene in January.
84.4%