Senate Courts of Justice Committee reviews judicial candidates and certifies slates

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee held interviews and then certified a slate of judicial candidates during its meeting in Richmond. Chair Scott Serveld opened the session and introduced candidates, and the committee then heard brief statements from nominees.

Jonathan Stone, a general district court judge in Virginia Beach, said his service there taught him that “every case that comes in front of a judge carries immense weight,” and he told senators he would be “honored to serve on the circuit court” (Jonathan Stone). Aaron Cass described 20 years in practice and community nonprofit work as preparation for a general district judgeship. Ally Sprinkle outlined a career that included service as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney and guardian ad litem for Portsmouth’s juvenile and domestic relations bench. Jane Reynolds and Charlie Clark were presented by senators and described their records in general district and prosecutorial offices, respectively.

After the interviews the committee took up certification in blocks. The chair moved to certify the list of circuit court candidates and the committee voted by voice; the clerk later announced a recorded tally of "Ayes 15, No 0." The committee used similar block procedures to certify general district and juvenile domestic relations court candidates.

The committee’s action qualifies the certified nominees to be nominated on the Senate floor; the committee did not take final floor votes on these nominees during the meeting. The clerk recorded the roll tallies for the certification motion, and the chair directed staff to include certified names in the packets for nomination process oversight.

The hearings were short and largely procedural; senators who introduced candidates offered brief endorsements, but the committee did not conduct extended questioning of nominees. The committee adjourned the interviews portion and moved to its regular bill docket.