. . . let the people consider amending the Constitution of Virginia to allow judges to practice law . . .
From: Veronique Wyvell
To:
publisher@chroniclenewspapers.com
;
editor@chroniclenewspapers.com
Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2006 11:20 AM
Subject: Virginia courts miss the forest for the trees . . .
My comments are addressed to the publisher and the editor of THE NORTH COUNTY CHRONICLE (Great Falls / McLean / Vienna / Oakton) newspaper.
Re: New Judge Takes Oath at Fairfax County General District Court (--
Chronicle
, December 2006)
On page one you write "The new judge was a partner with the Fairfax law firm of Kelly, Mayne and Daughtrey, where the bulk of her practice was before the General District Courts with an emphasis on civil litigation."
On page 15 you continue with "In 2004, Mayne was appointed a substitute judge for the 19th Judicial District. During her tenure as a substitute judge, she presided over cases in the Fairfax County General District Court and the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court . . ."
I cannot know from your article if Ms. Lisa A. Mayne closed her trial law practice in 2004 when she was appointed a substitute judge. Or did Ms. Mayne both stand in front of the District Court bench as a litigator and sit behind the District Court bench as a judge for these previous two to three years? If the answer is yes, her behavior was not only unethical but quite possibly illegal and unconstitutional.
Your article is masking a terrible truth about the operation of Virginia courts: It is common practice for Virginia lawyers who also serve as substitute judges to both represent clients and rule on cases in the same courthouse.
Please know chief judges select lawyers to serve as substitute judges. And please know Virginia law gives substitute judges and judges the same powers and the same duties.
You have a fine newspaper, but the public is better served with more fully developed articles that challenge even at the risk of offending.
When will Virginia policy makers begin to reconsider the value and the inherent danger of substitute judgeships? If the answer is never, let the people consider amending the Constitution of Virginia to allow judges to practice law.
Veronique Wyvell, RN
Member, Fairfax County Network Against Family Abuse
Founder,
Mothers Against Unjust Law