Lynchburg lawyer appointed for judgeship in Campbell County

By Ray Reed
Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: April 25, 2008

RICHMOND — Lynchburg attorney John T. Cook was confirmed for a circuit court judgeship in Campbell County by the General Assembly late Wednesday night.

Cook’s non-controversial appointment, with unanimous support among the Lynchburg region’s delegation to the General Assembly, was delayed for a month because of disputed judgeships elsewhere in the state.

In what was essentially a power struggle between the two political parties, General Assembly members finally agreed shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday to approve two dozen judgeship nominations statewide that were not in dispute.

That agreement cleared the way for Cook’s approval.

About half a dozen judgeships, most of them in the Norfolk area, were not resolved by legislators and will be filled by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s appointments.

“It was very late when it all went through,” said Del. Shannon Valentine, D-Lynchburg. “It was controversial to the very end.”

But the outcome, she said, means “the 24th Circuit is going to be served by a very good man.”

Kaine has said that while he didn’t really want the role of appointing judges, he was resolved to appoint good ones. His appointments would be subject to approval by the legislature next winter.

Also unfilled by the legislature was a judgeship on the State Corporation Commission, a high-profile slot that regulates utilities, banks and insurance companies. Kaine will appoint someone to that post as well.

Cook will succeed J. Samuel Johnston as judge of the 24th Circuit in Campbell County.

Johnston announced last September that he would retire effective June 1 after 30 years on the bench.

Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, said Cook “is a remarkable individual who will make a fair justice.”

“I think Central Virginia will be served well for decades as a result of the appointment,” Newman said.

Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, said he wasn’t sure when Cook would take his seat on the bench, because the state Supreme Court has a training program for new circuit court judges and the legislature’s one-month delay in confirming appointments may affect the timing.

Still, Cline said, he felt Cook “will do a great job, and the county will have a steady hand on the bench.”