State lawmakers may be nearing an agreement with the Virginia Supreme Court on whether evaluations of judges who are up for reappointment should be open to the public.
The evaluations are designed to help judges with self-improvement and to inform legislators who reappoint them. But an order from the state Supreme Court stipulates that only members of the General Assembly should view the evaluations. Lawmakers say that oversteps the separation of powers and puts them in a tough spot with constituents.
Del. David B. Albo, R-Fairfax, chairman of the House Courts of Justice Committee, and two other delegates met with three justices yesterday to try to find some middle ground.
Albo said the justices indicated they were willing to rescind the order and said lawmakers could ask judges questions pertaining to information in the evaluation during public meetings.
The justices still ask that the actual evaluations be collected after the meetings, however.
Albo said if the order is rescinded, he will ask members of the House courts committee to return the documents to him after the meeting. That will enable the panel to interview the judges before Saturday, the scheduled last day of the session.
Five judges are awaiting re-appointment interviews, including a Richmond General District Court judge, Birdie Hairston Jamison. Albo has scheduled the interviews for Friday. -- Olympia Meola
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