DATE: Wednesday, April 9, 1997              TAG: 9704090505

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B12  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

DATELINE: RICHMOND                          LENGTH:   65 lines

GOVERNOR TO NAME COURT'S NEW JUSTICE

Gov. George Allen is evaluating 31 candidates, including some from Hampton Roads, for a seat on the Virginia Supreme Court, the governor's office said Tuesday.

Allen will make the appointment because the General Assembly voted along party lines and failed to agree on a successor to retiring justice Roscoe B. Stephenson Jr.

The governor will consider each candidate's judicial philosophy, credentials and experience, said Secretary of the Commonwealth Betsy Beamer.

Beamer and Mark Christie, counsel to the governor, will interview each of the candidates. The governor will interview the finalists before making his decision, Beamer said.

Interviews with the candidates are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, and Allen hopes to decide by early May.

His selection will have to be approved by the General Assembly after he leaves office in January. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

A list of the potential candidates for the Virginia Supreme Court

being considered by Gov. George Allen:

Steven Agee, Salem, former delegate.

Thomas E. Albro, Charlottesville, lawyer.

Robert B. Altizer, Tazewell, lawyer.

Richard S. Bray, Chesapeake, Virginia Court of Appeals judge.

Rudolph Bumgardner, Staunton Circuit Court judge.

Daniel Chichester, Stafford County Commonwealth's Attorney.

Jean Harrison Clements, Leesburg, Loudon County Juvenile and

Domestic Relations Court judge.

Bernard S. Cohen, Alexandria, former delegate, lawyer.

Larry G. Elder, Chesterfield, Virginia Court of Appeals judge.

Walter S. Felton, Jr., Williamsburg, lawyer.

Robert P. Frank, Newport News Circuit Court judge.

Douglas L. Guynn, Mount Crawford, lawyer.

James W. Haley, Falmouth, lawyer.

Catherine C. Hammond, Richmond, Deputy Attorney General.

Thomas D. Horne, Loudoun County Circuit Court judge.

Henry E. Hudson, McLean, Former U.S. Marshal, lawyer.

Robert Humphreys, Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney.

Cynthia D. Kinser, Abingdon, U.S. Magistrate.

James J. Knicely, Williamsburg, lawyer.

James Kulp, Henrico County Circuit Court judge.

William H. Ledbetter, Spotsylvania County Circuit Court judge.

Donald W. Lemons, Richmond Circuit Court judge.

Wiley F. Mitchell Jr., Norfolk, former state senator, corporate

lawyer for Nofolk Southern.

R. Terrence Ney, McLean, lawyer.

Simon M. Painter, Jr., Staunton, lawyer.

Herbert A. Pickford, III, Charlottesville, retired Circuit Court

judge.

Thomas R. Scott, Grundy, lawyer.

Paul F. Sheridan, Arlington Circuit Court judge.

Margaret P. Spencer, Richmond General District judge.

Roy B. Willett, Roanoke Circuit Court judge.

J.M.H. ``Mac'' Willis Jr., Fredericksburg, Virginia Court of

Appeals judge. KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA STATE SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENT JUDGESHIP

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