On Feb. 1, state Sen. Amanda Chase (R) filed a federal lawsuit against the state Senate and its clerk after she was recently censured by the Senate. The civil rights complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Richmond. On Feb. 6, Chase noted that Judge Robert E. Payne had already held two hearings on the case with a trial scheduled for March 17. Chase was hopeful of a good outcome, noting that Payne was nominated to the seat by then-President George H.W. Bush on Nov. 20, 1991. Payne was unanimously confirmed by the…
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By a vote of 24-9 with six abstentions, the Virginia Senate censured Chesterfield Sen. Amanda Chase on Jan. 27. It was only the second time in state history that a senator has been censured. The first was Sen. Peter K. Babalas (D-Norfolk) in 1987 for unethical conduct. That vote was 25-14. The censure of Chase was for failure to uphold her oath of office, misuse of office and conduct unbecoming a senator. Three Republicans — Tommy Norment of James City County, Bryce Reeves of Spotsylvania County and Jill Vogel of Fauquier County — joined all 21 Democrats in voting for…
Despite the efforts of freshman Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) to avoid the censure of Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield), it appeared that the Senate would vote to censure her this week. “I worked tirelessly so we could come to a compromise,” Morrissey said on Saturday, noting he supports the freedom of speech. The compromise included Chase apologizing for certain things and denouncing certain things, Morrissey said. However, on Friday, Jan. 22, Chase instead gave a general apology while condemning violence that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. On Jan. 8, the state’s Senate Democrats called on Chase to resign…
Reviews of current Chesterfield/Colonial Heights District Court Judge Pamela O’Berry were split when two committees from the state House and Senate met virtually on Friday, Dec. 11. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman John S. Edwards (D-Roanoke) said he had “never seen so many citizens in support and so many with a different position” about a judge. O’Berry, who has served 12 years on the court, is one of five judges on the 12th Judicial District. Positive opinions of the judge came from several well-known officials, including county supervisors James Holland (D) and Chris Winslow (R), state Del. Dolores McQuinn (D-Richmond) and…
Two local Republicans who declared their intention to seek their party’s nomination for governor next year could have faced each other in the general election. State Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) and Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) have announced their candidacies, along with Kurt Santini, a Bedford County resident and former Army Ranger. Chase, who earlier said she would run as an independent if her party chose a convention instead of a primary for next year’s election, made an about-face on Friday. In a Dec. 11 Facebook post, Chase said she recently received “thousands of communications” from across the state asking…
Cox, Morrissey criticize rush to judgment for the VMI superintendent Two of Chesterfield’s state legislators reflected last week on the Nov. 9 special session. State senators gathered at the Science Museum of Virginia while state representatives met virtually to consider amendments to bills proposed by Gov. Ralph Northam (D). In an email to constituents, Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) said Northam had his chief of staff, Clark Mercer, call Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III to ask that he resign following claims of racism last month on the campus of Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. Peay resigned Oct. 26. Cox said…
Sen. Joe Morrissey
Special session recesses after 60 days A bill waiting to be signed by Gov. Ralph Northam, (D) would be “literally transformational in Virginia,” according to its chief sponsor, Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond). SB 5007 would give defendants the option of a judge sentencing them if convicted following a trial by jury. The vast majority of states currently allow sentencing by a judge. “[Sen.] Creigh Deeds said it’s the most important criminal justice legislation we’ve done in 20 years,” Morrissey said Oct. 17, the day after the General Assembly finished most of its work in a special session. Morrissey said he…
Sen. Joe Morrissey
State Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) is pleased with how a special legislative session is going so far. On Thursday, Sept. 10, Morrissey — who represents a portion of east Chesterfield — said he’s “very pleased with what we’ve been able to get done.” He noted that the Senate — which is meeting at the Science Museum of Virginia at 2500 W. Broad St. — approved his sentencing reform bill, SB5007, by a vote of 22-18 on Thursday, with one Republican, Bill Stanley, voting with Democrats. The legislation will enable a judge to administer sentencing upon request of a convicted defendant. …
Delegate Kirk Cox
Chase, Morrissey respond to him joining race On Aug. 3, state Del. Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) announced that he was considering a run for governor. In making the announcement on Twitter, Cox criticized what he called a lack of leadership from Gov. Ralph Northam on “coronavirus testing, the parole board illegally and secretly releasing violent criminals early, [and] the mismanagement of how to best send our kids back to school this fall.” Cox said he will make a decision following the Nov. 3 general election. If he joins the race, Cox would be the second Republican candidate who represents Chesterfield…
Two Chesterfield County state senators and a state delegate took time recently to reflect on the state Legislature’s one-day “veto session” that occurred April 22. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the state House and Senate held meetings under a canopy outside the state Capitol and at the Science Museum of Richmond. “I’m glad it was held at the Science Museum of Virginia with people 10 feet apart,” state Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) said. “It was a continuation of the same in which the new (Democratic) majority got pretty much what they wanted (during the regular session),” state Sen. Amanda…