By Diana DiGangi

Capital News Service

The state Senate recently passed a bill adding a general district court judge to the 25th Judicial District, which includes the Charlottesville and Staunton areas.

Senators voted 39-1 in favor of SB 57, which would:

• Increase from three to four the number of general district court judges in the 25th Judicial District. It includes the cities of Covington, Lexington, Staunton, Buena Vista and Waynesboro, as well as Highland, Augusta, Rockbridge, Bath, Alleghany, Botetourt and Craig counties.

• Increase from seven to eight the number of juvenile and domestic relations district court judges in the 19th Judicial District, which includes Fairfax and Fairfax County.

Boosting the number of judges in the 25th Judicial District was proposed by Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath. He originally included the idea in SB 347. That bill was incorporated into SB 57, which had been introduced by Sen. Janet Howell, D-Reston.

SB 57 was endorsed by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee and the Senate Finance Committee before going to the full Senate for consideration. It was passed at its third and final reading. The only senator opposing the bill was Sen. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham.

Deeds said the 25th Judicial District, which until a few years ago was authorized to have as many as five judges, needs another judge.

“One thing that worries me is the increased high-profile cases in my district in the last year or so. There’s been real pressure on that court,” Deeds said. “Justice delayed is justice denied, and those cases are not only creating a lot of stir around Charlottesville, but they’re causing a delay in the trials of other cases.”

SB 347 was one of 21 bills Deeds filed for this session. Six of his other bills have also passed the Senate. They include SB 356, which would direct state agriculture officials to develop a strategy to protect honeybees, and SB 352, which would designate Nelsonite as Virginia’s state rock.

In a recent interview, Deeds said his legislative priorities do not often vary from session to session, as the 25th Senate District generally faces problems that are endemic throughout the state. The Senate district includes the cities of Charlottesville, Buena Vista, Covington and Lexington; Alleghany, Bath, Nelson, Highland and Rockbridge counties; and part of Albemarle County.

“The 25th District is really a microcosm of Virginia,” he said. “It’s got a spot of urbanity, mostly in Charlottesville, but I’ve got smaller cities in the western part of the district. It’s got suburban areas; it’s got a large rural area.”

The senator expressed concern about Virginia’s economic future, and how it will impact his district in the long run.

“The rural areas, a lot of them are struggling in terms of economic development. The urban areas are, too; suburban areas as well. In general, Virginia is suffering,” Deeds said. “While the economy looks good right now, Virginia is one of the most federally dependent states in the union. So when the government goes through the sequestration process — which we’ve avoided right now, but it’s going to rear its head again in two years — that’s going to have a major impact on us.”