THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503020225
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
With the selection of S. Bernard Goodwyn for a General District Court judgeship, Chesapeake sheds the embarrassing distinction of having the only all-white bench in Hampton Roads. That's a burden we gladly lay down.
Mr. Goodwyn is a distinguished lawyer and legal scholar with experience as a substitute judge. He appears to be an excellent choice.
The local bench has long been a blemish on Chesapeake's generally commendable record for minority representation in positions of authority. With a population that is 27 percent African-American, it has been difficult to explain why there hasn't been a single black judge in the city's history.
Hope for the creation of a new judgeship in juvenile court is fading because of budgetary considerations, so it may be some time before there's another opportunity to compensate for the inequities of the past.
As welcome as it is, the appointment of Mr. Goodwyn does not settle the score. True diversity on the bench has not been achieved - not yet. by CNB