In a rare move, Gov. Charles Turnbull has asked for input from local lawyers in choosing
Territorial Court judges.
He has sent a questionnaire to individual members of the V.I. Bar Association asking their opinion about sitting judges whose terms are soon to expire. He also asked for the attorneys to make recommendations for new judges.
He wants the surveys back by Oct. 15 according to a St. Thomas attorney who said this is the first time in at least 20 years that a governor has asked for such assistance from members of the Bar.
"He considers this decision a very important one," said Pierina Jacobs-McBrowne, Government House spokeswoman. He wants to consider a candidate's record and his/her standing in the community.
The surveys were not sent to all attorneys in the territory because there are so many, she said. "I don't know what the system was" for choosing recipients, but "it was a random selection process" and "it doesn't preclude any of the other attorneys from writing a letter to the governor" to voice an opinion.
Turnbull could have more influence on the judicial system than any past governor.
Presiding Judge Verne Hodge has announced he will retire after more than 20 years of running the Court, and all eight of the other sitting judges will come up for reappointment during Turnbull's term.
Hodge's term expires Nov. 5; Judge Ive Swan's appointment is up Nov. 5 also, and Judge Maria M. Cabret's term ends Nov. 15. The next term to be expire will be Judge Soraya Diase's on Jan. 14.
Turnbull is seeking guidance on the possible reappointments as well as on the selection of a new presiding judge.
Jacobs -McBrowne said she believes the governor has conferred with Hodge to get his recommendation for his own replacement.
Hodge did not return a call seeking comment.
The presiding judge can stay on the job up to 120 days after Nov. 5, she said, if he chooses to do so to help make a smooth transition.
Names circulating the community as possible names for presiding judge are Cabret, former Lt. Gov. Derek Hodge, former Lt. Gov. Julio Brady, Judge Edgar Ross and attorney Rhys Hodge.
Cabret, Ross and Brady are on St. Croix, and there is some sentiment in the community for having the presiding judgeship shift to that island since Hodge has held it in St. Thomas for more than 20 years.
Rhys Hodge's name has also been mentioned for a Territorial Court judgeship if Turnbull opts not to reappoint one of the St. Thomas judges.
Editor's note: See full listing of judges' terms and their expiration dates under Community/Data.
