Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 12, 1990 TAG: 9005120035
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Philip Smith, press secretary for U.S. Sen. John Warner, said the Senate voice vote was unanimous on a block of nominations - including Wilson's - for judgeships in districts across the United States.
President Bush in March nominated Wilson for the judgeship created by the retirement of U.S. District Judge Glen Williams of Lee County.
Wilson, a lawyer with Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, was considered the front-runner in a pool of three candidates - including himself, Pennington Gap lawyer Birg Sergent and H. Ronnie Montgomery of Jonesville - recommended by Warner to succeed Williams.
With his confirmation, Wilson, 40, is one of the youngest federal judges in the country.
Wilson, a Norfolk native, served as an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Roanoke from 1974 to 1976 and served in 1976 as an assistant U.S. attorney. He was appointed U.S. magistrate for the Western District later that year. He joined Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove in 1981.
The Western District of Virginia runs from Lynchburg west to the tip of the state in Lee County. Former Judge Williams has heard cases in Abingdon and Big Stone Gap.
Wilson's nomination was a disappointment to Republicans in Williams' home district. They wanted Warner to endorse a candidate from the 9th District, specifically Sergent.
In March 1989, Warner submitted three names for consideration to fill the vacancy - state GOP Chairman Donald Huffman, U.S. Attorney John Perry Alderman and Sergent.
Of the three, only Sergent remained under consideration.
Warner said in January that Sergent should be given priority because he was one of the first three recommended.
Alderman - nominated after the White House decided to pass over Huffman, Warner's personal favorite for the job - unexpectedly announced his withdrawal from consideration last month.
He cited personal reasons for dropping his nomination. He also was backed by the White House and was awaiting confirmation by a Senate committee.
Republicans in Roanoke argued that there has been no federal judge from the Roanoke area for years and that it was their turn.
And while Roanoke lawyers said it was time for a federal judge to come from the city, lawyers farther west wanted one of their own.
Several Southwest Virginia bar associations passed resolutions urging Warner to appoint someone from the coalfields. Wilson has said he would be willing to move to Abingdon for the judgeship.
by CNB