Kaine appoints new judge to Appomattox bench

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine appointed a new judge to the judicial circuit serving Appomattox County on Monday.

Joel Cunningham has served as a lower-court judge in the district since 1997, working as the presiding judge in the general district courts of Halifax and Charlotte counties.

“His exemplary work in the Tenth Judicial District’s General District Court gives me confidence he will be an outstanding circuit court judge,” Kaine said in a news release.

According to the release, Cunningham oversaw the development of one of the state’s first docket management systems, which resulted in cases being resolved more quickly.

Before becoming a judge, he worked for the attorney general’s office, General Electric, Halifax County commonwealth’s attorney’s office and Virginia Legal Aid Society.

He is a graduate of Virginia State University and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Circuit court judges are typically elected by the General Assembly. The opening left by the retirement of Judge William Wellons was one of 11 left unfilled by the Assembly at the end of the session earlier this year. When left unfilled, circuit court judges may be appointed by the governor to serve until 30 days after the next general assembly is convened.

Judge Richard S. Blanton is the presiding judge in Appomattox County.