Martha P. Ketron
Martha P. Ketron is a district court judge for the 29th Judicial District's Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in Virginia.[1] She was appointed by the circuit judges of the 29th District in May 2013, effective July 1, 2013, to replace Henry A. Barringer.[2]
The appointment was temporary, as the Virginia Legislature selects judges in the state. The state House of Representatives approved Ketron's appointment to a full term in early 2014, but the appointment was not confirmed by the Senate, due to a policy against appointing relatives of legislators to the bench. Ketron's father was a senator at the time. The circuit judges reappointed her in 2014 while waiting for the legislature to reconvene.[3]
Education
Ketron received both her undergraduate and J.D. degrees from Campbell University.[4]
Career
Prior to her judicial appointment in 2013, Ketron practiced law with the Chafin Law Firm P.C. in Lebanon, Virginia.[2][5]
Noteworthy events
Senator Puckett resignation (2014)
Ketron became the subject of media attention after her father, Democratic Senator Phillip Puckett, resigned from his position with the Virginia State Senate. Virginia Democrats accused Republicans of bribing Puckett with prestigious jobs for him and his daughter in exchange for his resignation. Puckett's resignation gave Republicans control of the chamber and the power to strike down Medicaid expansion through the Affordable Care Act.[6]
Puckett responded that he resigned to allow Ketron to be appointed to the judgeship because Senate Republicans had voiced their opposition to giving judicial appointments to family members of sitting legislators. He denied rumors that a high-level job with the Virginia tobacco commission was a factor in his resignation.[7]
See also
External links
- Virginia's Judicial System, "Courts in Circuit and District 29"
- Virginia's Judicial System, "Circuit/District Map"
- Virginia's Judicial System, "Individual District Court Pages"
- PilotOnline, "Va. senator's resignation could trigger domino effect," June 8, 2014
Footnotes
- ↑ Virginia's Judicial System, "District Courts," accessed October 15, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 SW VA Today, "New Judge appointed in 29th district," May 22, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Va. lawmaker to resign, paving way for jobs for self, daughter, according to associates," June 8, 2014
- ↑ Martindale.com, "Martha Puckett Ketron - Lawyer Profile," accessed October 15, 2014
- ↑ Governing.com, "Virginia Senator's Resignation Leaves One Less Vote for Medicaid Expansion," June 9, 2014
- ↑ CBS DC, "Report: Va. GOP accused of bribing Dem Senator, daughter with top jobs," June 9, 2014
- ↑ Richmond Rimes-Dispatch, "Puckett says daughter’s judgeship key to resignation," June 10, 2014
