Retiring Circuit Judge may not be replaced

September 22, 2010

Accomac, Virginia: Circuit Court Judge Glen A. Tyler is stepping down from the Accomack Circuit Court at the end of 2010. He will turn 70 on December 12th, which is the age of mandatory retirement for Virginia judges. He will retire on December 31, 2010.

Tyler's seat, which is located on the Eastern Shore, is likely to remain vacant. This is due to the General Assembly's decision to remove the budgets for 17 Circuit Court judgeships that are, or will soon be vacant. Delegate Lynwood Lewis thinks the positions should be restored. He pointed to the geographically "unique circumstances" of the Eastern Shore court. There are 9 other judges in the 2nd Judicial Circuit, but Tyler is the only one who lives on the Eastern Shore. A judge from another area would have to travel to the Shore daily if Tyler is not replaced. "Frankly, I don't know how the court on the Eastern Shore would function if we didn't have a circuit judge in residence," Tyler said.