SB190: Judicial retirement; publication of notice by Supreme Court or Committee on District Courts.

SENATE BILL NO. 190
Offered January 13, 2010
Prefiled January 12, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-69.9:3 and 17.1-511 of the Code of Virginia, relating to publication of notice of judicial retirement.
Patron-- Northam

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §§ 16.1-69.9:3 and 17.1-511 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 16.1-69.9:3. Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled.

When a vacancy occurs in the office of any judge of any district, the vacancy shall not be filled until, after investigation, the Committee on District Courts certifies that the filling of the vacancy is necessary. The Committee shall publish notice of such certification each vacancy in a publication of general circulation among attorneys licensed to practice in the Commonwealth upon receipt of a judge's notice of intention to retire. No notice of retirement submitted under § 51.1-305 or § 51.1-307 shall be revoked after certification of the vacancy by the Committee. If the Committee certifies that the filling of the vacancy is not necessary, it shall direct the manner of distributing the work created by the vacancy, and the vacancy shall not be filled if not certified as necessary.

§ 17.1-511. Investigation and certification of necessity before vacancies filled.

When a vacancy occurs in the office of judge of any court of record, the vacancy shall not be filled until, after investigation, the Supreme Court certifies that the filling of the vacancy is or is not necessary. If the Court certifies that the filling of the vacancy is necessary, the The Court shall publish notice of such certification each vacancy in a publication of general circulation among attorneys licensed to practice in the Commonwealth upon receipt of a judge's notice of intention to retire. No notice of retirement submitted under § 51.1-305 or § 51.1-307 shall be revoked after certification of the vacancy by the Court. If the Court certifies that the filling of the vacancy is not necessary, it shall recommend to the General Assembly the manner of distributing the work of the judge; and the Governor shall not fill the vacancy.