Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 13, 1994 TAG: 9403130048
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Pattisall, who left private practice in 1989 to join the bench, won the seat after being selected by Democrats in both the House of Delegates and Senate. He was the selection of the Roanoke County-Salem Bar Association for the new seat, created to alleviate a heavy caseload for judges in the Roanoke area circuit.
Dels. Victor Thomas of Roanoke and Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County backed Pattisall over General District Court Judge Julian Raney, a former prosecutor who was the choice of the Roanoke Bar Association. Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, nominated Raney in the House caucus, "but he didn't make it," Woodrum said.
Because Democrats hold majorities in both the House and Senate, judges who win nomination to judgeships there are automatically elected by the legislature. Democrats are bound by their caucus rules to support the caucus choice on the House and Senate floor.
The legislature elected Roanoke attorney Joseph Bounds, 50, to a newly created seat on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Bounds, the Roanoke Bar Association's nominee, has practiced law in Roanoke for 24 years.
Roanoke County and Salem lawyers had chosen Bill Broadhurst for that seat. Broadhurst, 39, an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Roanoke County, was elected to the District Court bench Friday, the job city lawyers wanted him to have.
The Assembly filled Pattisall's seat on the district bench, naming Vincent Lilley, 37, a lawyer in private practice in Salem. Lilley, who is married and has three children, was a prosecutor in Roanoke County and a member of a Salem law firm before opening his own practice six years ago.
by CNB