The Virginian-Pilot reports that Nick Rerras (R-6th) will announce today his recommendation of two women to fill the judgeships in Norfolk left open by retirement. Both of the judgeships were previously occupied by women: Lydia C. Taylor on the Circuit Court and Joan C. Skeppstrom on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Nominated to replace Taylor is Karen Burrell, currently of the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. Lauri D. Hogge, executive director of the child abuse program at the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, will be nominated to replace Skeppstrom.
The article mentions that Burrell is a Democrat and that this is the second time Rerras has nominated a Democrat to be a judge, the first one being former Delegate Jerrauld Jones. Funny, the article doesn’t mention the political affiliation of Hogge. I guess she must be a Republican.
In any case, it’s good that the number of women – three out of 20 – on the bench in Norfolk will remain the same.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Are they anti-abortion?
Ms.Hogge gave $100 to his re-election campaign in 2006, so they must be friendly.
I applaud her apparently get-tough stance on child abuse: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1997/vp971121/11210675.htm
I don’t know anything else about Ms. Hogge, such as how long she’s been a lawyer.
Vivian,
I don’t know how either of these women could be construed as anything less than highly qualified.
I agree. Burrell, as the article points out, is black. (Guess that means Hogge is white.) There was some concern earlier that Burrell had moved into the city in order to be considered for the position. Not sure why that would be a problem. Don’t people move for jobs all the time?
Viv — Burrell has also been working in Norfolk for more than a decade.
FYI. Laurie Hogge has not practiced law for the past 8 years. Also, she never has been in private practice.
Karen Burrell was rated in the second tier by all three interviewing committees.
The problem was taht Karen Burrell was promised the job-and moved-before Nick Rerras even knew who the other candidates would be. Maybe that’s ok for a job in the private sector, but not for selecting judges.
I guess that they are not FemiNazis.