Virginia Senate approves HJR 74 and confirms slate of judicial and commission nominees

The Virginia Senate agreed to House Joint Resolution 74 on Jan. 21 and confirmed a slate of judicial nominees and several commission appointments, declaring those named in the committee report to have received a majority and 'duly elected.' The action followed suspension of the rules to take up HJR 74 for immediate consideration and a committee report counting votes.

The clerk reported the committee's tally for votes necessary to elect in each house: 51 for the House of Delegates and 21 for the Senate. After a motion to waive the reading of the committee report, the Senate recorded a vote to waive (Ayes 37, Noes 1) and the chair announced that nominees who received a majority were declared duly elected to their respective circuit, general district, and juvenile and domestic relations district courts, and that appointments to the State Corporation Commission and the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission were agreed to.

The motions to suspend rules and take up the resolutions were made by the senator from Eastern Fairfax County and others; the chamber voted by recorded voice and roll calls at multiple points as the body discharged committee consideration and advanced senate resolutions (13–17) for immediate consideration. The chair instructed a senator to inform the House of Delegates of the Senate's actions after votes were recorded.

No debate over the substance of the nominations is recorded in the session transcript; the floor proceedings focused on procedural motions to discharge committees, waive readings, and take up resolutions for immediate consideration. The Senate adjourned at the close of business and will reconvene at 12 noon the following day.