Torres: No to special judge for rejected judges, justices

Rep. Stanley T. Torres yesterday filed a bill that prohibits a former judge or justice who is rejected during a retention election from serving as special judge.

Torres said the purpose of his legislation is to disallow the practice of appointing special judges who have not been retained as a result of the Commonwealth retention election.

Under the proposed measure, the governor is given authority to appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one or more special judges to be available to serve temporarily in the Superior Court or the Supreme Court.

The governor is given discretion to determine the number of special judges to be appointed, after consultation with the chief justice.

Virginia Sablan-Onerheim and Timothy H. Bellas are the only judges rejected by majority voters during retention elections.