Mis-Deeds: Questionable ethics in Dascher appointment

     
By JR Hoeft
Published April 28th, 2008  

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Laura Dascher of Bath County is a partner in the Covington law firm of Pasco and Dascher PLC. The firm gave $2500 to the Future Deeds Campaign in Dec. 2007.

That, in and of itself, is fine. But it’s not the whole story.

Laura Dascher was a “non-negotiable” appointment by Sen. Deeds to the Juvenile Domestic Relations Court, according to House sources. Apparently, Deeds was so adamant about this appointment, he was willing to hold up two circuit court appointments to make it happen.

He eventually got his way last Wednesday when Dascher’s appointment was approved (however, several delegates abstained).

Most of the case load for this particular judicial seat is 90 minutes from Covington; at least 60% of the cases are heard in Augusta, Staunton, and Waynesboro. Why would Deeds be so adamant about ensuring Dascher was the appointee?

So, it’s kind of interesting that a person who had been a substitute judge since Apr. 2007, donated $2500 to Sen. Deeds — her chief patron — in December, and lives 90 minutes from where most of the cases are heard, would suddenly become a “non-negotiable” appointment.

After learning of Sen. Yvonne Miller’s demands this weekend and now this, it seems like gaining power in the senate last election has created some questionable ethical behavior by Senate Democrats.

Is it coincidence, or is there a little quid pro quo between Deeds and Ms. Dascher?

UPDATE: The Deeds campaign replied to the ‘Drift this afternoon with the following explanation as to why Ms. Dascher was the senator’s first choice.

“[Laura Dascher] was the candidate endorsed by the bar association. Additionally, Senator Deeds’ felt it was important to have a judge from that part of the district–I think it’s been 14 years since that’s been the case,” wrote Peter Jackson, Deeds for Virginia campaign manager to Bearing Drift today via e-mail. “Laura is an extraordinarily talented lawyer, especially in trying the Juvenile & Domestic Relations cases that she’ll be hearing from the bench.”

Comments

8 Responses to “Mis-Deeds: Questionable ethics in Dascher appointment”

  1. RileyNo Gravatar on April 28th, 2008 at 11:28 am

    Dirty Deeds Done Not Quite Dirt Cheap…

  2. Dirty Deeds Done Not Quite Dirt Cheap… « Virginia Virtucon on April 28th, 2008 at 11:34 am

    [...] of campaign cash to Creigh “Dirty” Deeds for a judicial appointment. Head on over to Bearing Drift for all the [...]

  3. Bolling reacts to judicial appointment ethics questions | Bearing Drift on April 28th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

    [...] has hijacked the judicial appointment process in Norfolk and Virginia Beach and Sen. Creigh Deeds accepted campaign money from an appointee’s law firm (where she is one of two partners) before he strongly advocated [...]

  4. Brian KirwinNo Gravatar on April 29th, 2008 at 12:21 pm

    Judgeships $2500? Boy, Deeds doesn’t know the market very well.

    I’d figured he would’ve gotten $10,000 easy.

  5. Senate Dems setting new standards for ethics | Bearing Drift on May 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 am

    [...] blocking the unanimous choice of the elected officials of both parties who actually live there. Sen. Creigh Deeds handed a judgeship to a $2500 [...]

  6. Ron WilsonNo Gravatar on August 6th, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    Laura Dascher is a talented lawyer; I believe this to be an appointment based on merit. She will be an asset to the bench and will be missed from her private practice.

  7. davidNo Gravatar on March 7th, 2009 at 10:59 pm

    This loco judge laura dascher is a piece of work and should be pulled from office at once.

  8. Deeds - it’s still him, but let’s get real… | Bearing Drift :: Virginia Politics and Podcasts on June 4th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    [...] Then, there is the little matter last year of Deeds being involved in a questionable judicial appointment. [...]

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