THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230308
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 28 lines
Two judges and a lawyer who are candidates for a federal judgeship have received the highest possible endorsement from the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association.
Judge Jerome B. Friedman of Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller of U.S. District Court in Norfolk, and Norfolk lawyer Conrad M. Shumadine were rated ``highly qualified'' by the bar association's members in a vote tallied late Tuesday.
The association also rated two candidates as ``qualified'': Judge Alan E. Rosenblatt of Virginia Beach Circuit Court and Norfolk lawyer Larry W. Shelton.
One candidate on the association's ballot, Judge Johnny E. Morrison of Portsmouth Circuit Court, did not get enough support to be rated ``qualified'' or ``highly qualified.'' A seat is open on Norfolk's federal court because Judge Robert G. Doumar has taken senior status, a form of semi-retirement in which he can hear as many or as few cases as he likes. He plans to maintain a full schedule.
The new judge will be appointed by President Clinton, perhaps as early as next month. Before then, the most important recommendation will come from U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb, Virginia's only Democratic senator.