"At the end of the month, Albemarle Circuit Court Judge Paul M. Peatross will retire. The Charlottesville Area Bar Association has already grilled seven candidates, coming out with two they found “highly qualified” to succeed Peatross. But, ultimately, the decision rests not with the lawyers, but with the General Assembly.

That gets us to…Rob Bell, Albemarle delegate and visible House Courts of Justice committee member who insists on going his own way. January 16, he held his own meeting for the judicial candidates.

“I’ve done that whenever there’s been a circuit court opening,” Bell says.

Bell established a panel of five citizens to hear public comments on candidates Cheryl V. Higgins, R. Lee Livingston, Claude V. Worrell, Robert H. Downer, Jr., Patricia M. Brady, John R. Zug and James L. Camblos, III. Of those, former County prosecutor Higgins and City General District Court Judge Downer snagged Bar endorsements.

Bell’s five trusted panel members were former prosecutor Richard DeLoria, former Albemarle police officer Dan Blake, former probation officer Alan Rasmussen, victim’s advocate Kristine Hall and local auto saleswoman Simona Holloway-Warren.

The car saleswoman excepted, Bell admits his choices lean well toward the prosecutor’s table (Bell himself is a former Orange County prosecutor). “I made no secret that among the issues I care about very much is the impact the appointment will have on public safety. The single biggest category of cases [seen by the circuit court] is criminal.”

Bell wasn’t present at the meeting—he was caught up in Richmond until late, nor did he attend the Bar’s forum in December.

Don Morin, chair of the judicial endorsements committee with the Bar, doesn’t seem to mind. “Delegate Bell needs to get as much information as he feels he needs to make his decision. The Bar Association is pleased that he has received our information and we’re sure he’s going to consider it.”

At the meeting, Albemarle prosecutor Jim Camblos’ candidacy was seemingly resurrected when several members of the public made comments for and against the idea of “Judge Camblos.” Already discounted by the Bar, the oft-criticized, bow-tied Camblos has been elected to four terms as Albemarle Commonwealth’s attorney and is a prominent area Republican.

Bell expects the judicial appointment, commonly a charged political topic, will come before the Courts of Justice committee near the end of the session." (Meg McAvoy, C-VILLE Weekly, January 23 - 29, 2007)