A special session in Richmond, for which lawmakers convened to fix the state’s congressional map, became the scene of a bitter debate over a vacancy on the state Supreme Court Monday.
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McEachin said an “ancillary benefit” of the maneuver was that the governor could now reappoint Roush – who earlier in the day was denied an interview by the GOP-controlled judicial selection committee that nominated Virginia Court of Appeals Judge Rossie Alston, Jr. for the job.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, wants Jane Roush to fill the vacancy.
The fight also effectively killed any chances that lawmakers will be able to redraw the state’s congressional map in time to meet a deadline imposed by a panel of federal judges.
Republicans and Democrats argued in both chambers over the motivations in both parties.
McAuliffe’s nomination of Roush of Fairfax will expire next week.
McAuliffe summoned reporters for a briefing this morning in which he said Roush deserved a hearing and called Republican’s actions “embarrassing”. If it remains adjourned, McAuliffe could appoint her to another interim term that would last until 30 days following the next session of the General Assembly.
Senate Minority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, a Democrat from Fairfax County, predicted it’ll be up to the courts to ultimately decide.
McAuliffe accused Republicans of rejecting his Supreme Court pick because they are angry that he called them into session for redistricting. GOP leaders were miffed that McAuliffe’s office did not check with them before appointing her, which they said was a breach in normal protocol.
The House of Delegates and the Senate were expected to vote on Alston’s appointment later. “Where’s his 21 votes?”
The Democrats and Watkins agreed to adjourn the Senate until further notice, and Northam broke another 20-20 tie when he supported that motion. But lawmakers will need to return to Richmond to vote on it before the end of the month, he said. Democrats say the ouster of a sitting Supreme Court justice has not occurred since at least 1900.
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Federal judges repeatedly ruled that the 3rd Congressional District illegally packed African American voters into a single district.
