What Can I Do About Judge Vanover, Sandy? Tell your Delegate and Senator to reappoint him – No Matter WHERE you Live in Virginia!

I have found my voice.  Thanks in part to the Dickenson County Board of Supervisors! (Where?  Some of my readers are asking.  Go here for more info and consider visiting Dickenson and environs on your next vacation.)  I am going public with this thing about the refusal of the General Assembly to reappoint the sitting Circuit Court Judge – Henry A. Vanover.

Judge Vanover has served since 2002 and was being appointed to his third or maybe fourth full term in 2018 when it was decided by the delegation he would not be reappointed.

I understand based on my “getting around” and talking to a couple of legal sources in the area (Dickenson is in the far west of Virginia; I go out there for legal conferences and threaten to retire there if they need another attorney!  I am greeted with:  Come!  We need another good lawyer!  And the mountains and mountain people are beautiful!) that this is a political decision by the local delegates and senators to get Judge Vanover off the bench and replace him with another person.

So I decided to take it private:  Contacted my delegate (Peace) and senator (McDougle) and protest the outrage.  [By the way no response other than McDougle’s office assured me the senator would read my email.]  Yes I know the delegates and senators tend to defer to the local delegations and that is right most of the time.  But this seems like pure politics.  A rather lame excuse that the judge was not willing to travel throughout his district.

Now I know this might not sit well but this is the integrity of the process at stake.  A solid judge is being maligned in effect (people will think Judge Vanover did something wrong) because someone wants that spot for another person.

The Dickenson County BOCS said this [from the Coalfield Progress]:

The supervisors’ resolution of appreciation and support of Vanover said the judge has “earned the respect of the members of the bar of Southwest Virginia through his illustrious career as a Circuit Court Judge, dedicated public servant, and attorney serving the people of Southwest Virginia.”

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The supervisors’ resolution that that Vanover has had a distinguished career on the bench, noting he has “provided leadership and foresight in creating the Dickenson County Drug Court” and has “exhibited the highest standards of competence, independence, and intellectual prowess.”

The resolution of support says Vanover “has conducted himself in a fair, compassionate and professional manner, treating members of the bar and all before him with fairness and respect.”

The local bar association agreed:

Vanover had popular support and got the unanimous endorsement of the Dickenson County Bar Association for reappointment but not the collective nod of the coalfields delegation to the General Assembly.

And from this radio station [WAXM 93.5FM]:

The Dickenson County Virginia Board Of Supervisors Has Adopted A Resolution That Supports The Re-Election Of Henry Vanover As Circuit Court Judge. Vanover Was Not Re-Elected To The Dickenson Circuit Court Bench By The General Assembly On January 16th When Other Judges Were. County Leaders Believe It’s Important That The Presiding Circuit Court Judge Be A Resident Of The County.

So why does this matter?  it matters a lot.  Why should a veteran lawyer with an established practice, respected by the people, his/her colleagues and the bench give all that up for a four or six year term as judge when you can be ousted for politics.  This will place all the judges subject to the whim of a few delegates and senators.

So what can I do, I don’t live in the far west?  Simple:  ALL the delegates and senators decide who is appointed and reappointed.  Yes it is important to usually follow the will of the local delegations.  BUT all the legislators should hold one another accountable and reject obvious politics.  ALL the delegates and senators are implicated in this.

SO here’s what you do:  Contact your delegate and senator.  Protest this.  I did.  Let them know a sound, independent judiciary is essential for a solid commonwealth.  Stand up for Judge Vanover.  Next time it might be your judge ousted for politics.