By Debbie Hall
Marcus Brinks was sworn in Friday as a circuit court judge.
Brinks was selected by legislators to serve when circuit court Judge Martin Clark retires later this spring.
Circuit Court Judge David Williams, the chief justice of the 21st Judicial District, presided at Brinks’ investiture.
“This is an important day in Patrick County history,” said Williams, who was flanked by Circuit Court judges Carter Greer and Clark.
Del. Charles Poindexter, R-Glade Hill, said bills to elect judges are among “the most important” of legislative tasks. “What we look for is an attorney with skills of law,” but other skills, such as judicial temperament, maturity, integrity, measured conduct and leadership, are equally important.
Noting that it has been said “the closet thing to God on earth is your local circuit court judge,” Poindexter said Brinks is up for the task and has a vast network of support from his wife and family, extended family and the community.
Brinks’ experience includes not only military law, but many years of service as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney and a general district court judge, Poindexter said.
To Brinks, Poindexter said “we’ve done our part to get you to where you should be” by a unanimous vote in the legislature.”
Poindexter also thanked Clark for his more than 20 years of service.
“It is a happy and satisfying day for me personally because next week, my friend will be sitting here. I’m delighted. This is a red-letter day and a remarkable day,” Clark said. Brinks “brings a number of assets to this job. Most importantly, he is a renaissance man. He knows a whole lot about a whole lot of things. … We are fortunate to have someone like Marcus Brinks.”
The ceremony included a gavel presentation. The gavel was fashioned from a tulip poplar tree that fell on the grounds of Monticello.
Attaining a judgeship “is not something you do on your own,” Brinks said, adding he had “tremendous support” from the Martinsville Henry County Bar Association and support from a large number of residents that was “outstanding. I’m really, really grateful for all of that.”
He added that his wife, Sarah Brinks, also helped him in this process.
His initial 8-year term commences today, May 1.
