Va. court appoints gay judge lawmakers rejected

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Richmond Circuit Court on Thursday appointed a gay Richmond prosecutor to a General District Court judgeship a month after legislators blocked the appointment.

Chief Judge Richard D. Taylor Jr. signed an order naming Tracy Thorne-Begland to the seat beginning July 1 and expiring 30 days after the start of the next General Assembly session. Gay rights advocates have said he would be Virginia’s first openly gay jurist.