Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 1, 1993 TAG: 9305030247
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I'm a kid at heart," Ferguson said. "My family is always kidding me because I like toys as much as the children."
Ferguson's love of children and his concern for their welfare will become a full-time job on June 7, when he becomes the Roanoke Valley's newest judge in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
At a meeting Friday, the valley's five Circuit Court judges appointed Ferguson, 45, to the judgeship vacated last month when Fred Hoback Jr. retired early because of health reasons.
It is a job that's been in the back of Ferguson's mind since the early 1970s, when he worked as a foster-care caseworker in Roanoke.
"I spent a lot of time in juvenile court, because [my clients] were always in trouble," he said in an interview Friday. "I was trying to take care of them and help them out."
Before going back to school to study law, Ferguson also worked as a counselor at a children's group home. His expertise in juvenile issues earned him endorsements from both of the Roanoke Valley's bar associations this week.
"Maybe I can offer a perspective that is unique, and one that can be helpful," he said.
Ferguson may be a kid at heart, but he also realizes that children are facing new problems in a changing society. His first months on the bench are likely to include dealing with accused drug dealers and killers.
"When I went to school you didn't even look cross-eyed at the teacher," he said. "Now you have kids pulling guns."
The challenge, he said, will be to bring temperence and an open mind to a court where the primary focus is on rehabilitating juvenile offenders.
"I think you have to bear in mind that you're dealing with people who are having their first exposure to the court system," Ferguson said. "And hopefully it will be their last exposure. If it is, then maybe that means you've done a good job."
Juvenile court judges also deal with child custody and visitation issues, child support and criminal cases that involve family disputes or children as victims. Ferguson will join two other juvenile court judges that hear cases in the 23rd Judicial Circuit, which covers Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem.
Eight Roanoke Valley lawyers had expressed interest in the judgeship during the past two weeks of campaigning for bar endorsements.
Because Ferguson was named by the Circuit Court judges to fill an unexpired term, his position will not become permanent until the General Assembly makes an appointment at its next session. However, the legislature is expected to follow the judge's lead in filling the judgeship.
In the meantime, Ferguson has one month to close a law practice that he spent years building. He also will give up his seat on the city Planning Commission.
Four hectic hours after learning that he will go from lawyer to judge, Ferguson finally had a chance to sit down for a few minutes Friday afternoon in the conference room of his Washington Avenue law office.
Had it sunk in yet? "No, it will take awhile," he said. "I'm still sort of numb from the flurry of activity over the past two weeks."
\ JOHN B. FERGUSON\ JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT JUDGE\ \ Age: 45
\ Education: Northside High School, Davidson College, University of Richmond law school.
\ Family: Married 20 years to Lou Anne Robertson Ferguson. Two children: 24-year-old stepson and 5-year-old son.
\ Professional: foster care caseworker, group home counselor, lawyer for past 14 years.
\ Civic activities: City Planning Commission, chairman of Community Development Subcommittee and Ordinance and Names Subcommittee.
Keywords:
PROFILE
by CNB