The ugly side of judicial selections

Norfolk attorney Mary Commander, a candidate for the vacancy in the Norfolk J&DR court, exposed the qualifying questions she was asked by her local State Senator Nick Rerras during her interview. Ms. Commander wrote that Mr. Rerras made many disturbing, to her, comments to which Mr. Rerras agreed he may have used the word "FemiNazi," and he certainly asked about Ms. Commander's view on abortion, but didn't realize what was such a big deal because she "smiled throughout the interview." Ms. Commander was recently honored as a "Leader in the Law" by Virginia Lawyers Weekly and has been a substitute judge for seven years, accomplishments that are certainly deserving of more respect. Again, all we can say is "at least we don't elect judges in Virginia."