Assembly Inaction Forces Justices Out of Retirement

Virginians are getting more than their money's worth from Harry Carrico. At 94, the former chief justice of the state Supreme Court — his professional home since 1961 — is still on the job, hearing 13 cases so far this year and writing one opinion.

Also busy: Charles Russell, 85, Lawrence Koontz, 71, and Liz Lacy. She's 66, the kid of the current crop of four senior — read: retired — justices, who fill in when the court is shorthanded.

As it has been since winter and is likely to remain into summer, if not longer, because the General Assemblyis again failing to do one of its more important jobs: pick judges.

The impact of the legislature's inaction — blame more partisan gridlock — is acute for the Supreme Court. It has seven members, but is down two — roughly 29 percent — because of Koontz's compulsory retirement and the death of Leroy Hassell, the state's first black chief justice.

Enter: Carrico, Russell, Koontz and Lacy.

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