Judges; elections in circuit court, general district court, etc.
Summary
House Joint Resolution 760 is a procedural resolution directing the General Assembly to proceed with the election of a large slate of judges and one member of the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission. It lists specific judicial vacancies and term start dates for circuit court judges, general district court judges, and juvenile and domestic relations district court judges across multiple judicial circuits and districts, as well as an unexpired term on the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission.
The resolution also sets out the mechanics for carrying out those elections: nominations are to be made in the order listed, each house is to be notified of nominations, and a joint committee of three members from each house is to count the votes and report the results. The presiding officer of either house may suspend the joint order for up to 24 hours to receive the committee report.
Impact
HJR760 does not amend the Code of Virginia or create new substantive law; instead, it authorizes and organizes the General Assembly’s internal process for electing judges and a Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission member. Its practical effect is to fill judicial seats and an oversight commission vacancy, thereby affecting the composition of Virginia’s circuit, general district, and juvenile and domestic relations courts, as well as the body responsible for judicial discipline and review.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and broadly supported. It passed the House unanimously on the final vote and the Senate unanimously as well, with only a single negative vote on a procedural motion to waive reading of the report. The voting pattern suggests strong bipartisan agreement on the need to complete the judicial elections.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The only recorded dissent was on a procedural vote to waive reading of the report, not on the resolution itself. Because the measure is a joint resolution governing nominations and elections of judges, any disagreement would likely have centered on procedure or individual selections rather than the overall authority to conduct the elections, but no committee debate or detailed objections are provided in the record.
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