Les Lilley confirmed as judge…but at what cost?
Former Virginia Beach City Attorney Les Lilley has finally been confirmed by the General Assembly as a Beach Circuit Court judge. The confirmation is a win for Virginia Beach Republicans, but could be a quid pro quo with Sen. Yvonne Miller.
Lilley was the unanimous choice of the Virginia Beach delegation last April, including from Democratic Dels. Bouchard and Matheisen…but Miller opposed it, breaking the unwritten General Assembly understanding of non-interference in another city’s judicial appointments.
The real question is, what did Miller get in return for Lilley’s appointment? Was it the appointment of former Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Jack Doyle?
Category: Government
Loading ...
It was Sens. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk) and John Miller (D-Newport News) who broke the loggerjam on the Lilley judgeship. Lilley was elected yesterday by the Senate by a vote of 21-2. A majority of the total membership–that is, 21 senators–is needed for election. Sens. Northam and John Miller joined all 19 Republican senators in voting for Lilley. Voting no were Sens. Yvonne Miller (D-Norfolk) and Henry Marsh (D-Richmond), the chairman of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. The remaining 17 Democratic senators did not vote. The vote can be found here:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+vot+SP0052
This rift in the Senate Democrats is strong. Yvonne Miller’s decades-long tenure in the Senate could be at risk if a primary opponent springs forward.
Maybe if someone had an agenda of jobs and economic development, they could defeat Yvonne Miller’s hyperfocus on being an enabler for felons and putting her own self-importance ahead of filling judicial vacancies.
I am involved in a case with Judge Lilley. He seems to be conscientious and nice, but he is inexperienced and he just cost my client several thousands dollars in and months in delays because of it.