Judge Recounts Her Past

by Tara St. Angelo
Business Editor

Judge Eileen A. Olds has been told that she does not look like a judge. As she entered room 133 in her stylish black dress, carrying her Christian Dior purse and sporting chunky black pearls, I thought she looked more like the fashion editor of Elle than a long-time judge. Judge Olds has been changing people's perceptions of the judiciary every day of the twelve years she has served on Chesapeake's Juvenile and Domestic Relations court.

On Oct. 24, Judge Olds spoke to students about what it is like to be a black woman on the court. Judge Olds has been ahead of her time for many years. She began attending the University of Virginia just four years after it began admitting women; she was one of six African-American students in her law school class; she was the first female judge in Chesapeake, as well as the first black judge; and she was recently elected as the fourth woman president of the American Judges Association.

Although things have changed in the courts when it comes to the perceptions of women and minorities, Judge Olds admits that the experience is still unique for women and minorities when it comes to the approach to the law. She pointed out that there are 425 judges in the district and circuit courts in Virginia and only eighty are women. Fewer than ten of these women serve in courts of record, and most sit in juvenile courts. She also added that many of her colleagues feel as though these are the more "touchy-feely courts" and are better suited to women.

Judge Olds says that many people perceive the juvenile court as "kiddie court," but there are serious issues. Judge Olds has more criminal cases than status offenses go through her court currently. Since there is no true family court in Virginia, Judge Olds sees all the cases dealing with family members. She noted that the most difficult cases in terms of emotional investment are those involving domestic relations that intersect with the maltreatment of children. Judge Olds's main goal in these cases is to keep a functioning family unit intact for the welfare of the child.

Judge Olds's final piece of wisdom was that future lawyers, judges, and politicians must maintain a stable and intact judiciary and preserve its independence. She advised that judges in general need to be able to make decision that they know are in the best interest of the litigants without fear of repercussions. Finally, she noted that judges have an obligation to provide as much legal education as possible to the public.

These are my thoughts on this story

1. Long time judge my ass, yes she has been on the bench for a decade however that doesn't mean she should be there.
   
2. In a society where we want to the end race tides, it would seem that everyone who writes about her is always making sure to point out that she is black, "the first black female judge" I'm sure there was others before her. The first black female president of the AJA. It seem that she has an is still using her race to her own advantage.
   
3. At least she as admitted the JDR courts are not of records so in fact they can do as they please. Hiding behind closed doors these judges and she often violate civil rights of these who stand before them. Making it hard to file complaints against judges when there are no records or witness to these crimes.
   
4. She admits that women should be in these courts, if that the case then that could explain why men and fathers don't stand a chance in these courts.
   
5. Now she claims her main goal is keep a functioning family unit, that the biggest damn lie she could every tell, since she hardly ever pays attention to case before her, then I guess family unit in her mind is mommy and kids, father are money machines and don't count.
   
6. She is afraid of repercussion, to use the term best interest of the litigants, damn these judge are protected from repercussion since there are no records are their wrong doing and total violation of law to can't be exposed to the public since all hearing in her court are close to the public. That means no court watchers are there to record her actions. So what type of repercussions are she talking about and what are the ones she is afraid of.