Legislators on Thursday filled four judgeships in the 21st Judicial District, according to State Sen. Bill Stanley.
Marcus Brinks was selected to fill the upcoming vacancy in Patrick County Circuit Court; James McGarry was tapped to fill the vacancy created in the Patrick County General District Court; Joan Ziglar was appointed to serve a District Court judgeship in Martinsville-Henry County and Kimberly Belongia, was named to fill a vacancy in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Stanley said.
Two of the judgeships would have become vacant in May, with the retirements of judges Martin F. Clark in Circuit Court and Bob Bushnell in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
A third opening, in General District Court, was created in 2011 with the retirement of R. Morgan Armstrong, and recently funded by the state. The position will be funded on the July 1 start of a new fiscal year.
The fourth vacancy was created by Brinks, who was among candidates under consideration to serve on the higher court. His eight year term is set to start May 1, according to a motion by Del. Les Adams, R-Chatham, who also is a member of the Courts of Justice committee.
Brinks was among those named in the flurry of motions approved around 7 p.m. Thursday.
McGarry and Ziglar each also were appointed to a six year term, with McGarry’s to begin on May 1 and Ziglar’s to start July 1; Belongia will serve a six year term beginning July 1.