January 6, 1954: New Judicial Circuit Plan Is Endorsed
 
Creation of a new judicial circuit for the Chesterfield County Circuit Court has been endorsed by the newly formed Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Bar Association. In addition, the association's newly elected president, Delegate Edward M. Hudgins, said he would work for creation of the new circuit by the General Assembly. The association held its organizational meeting last night and elected these other officers. In addition to Hudgins: M. A. Cogbill, Chesterfield's commonwealth's attorney, vice-president; and Ernest P. Gates, secretary-treasurer. The proposal for creation of the new judicial circuit has been made by the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors and the Petersburg Bar Association has endorsed the proposal. In a resolution unanimously adopted by the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Bar Association, it was stated that it is "no longer practical or possible" for the Circuit Court to continue effectively as part of the present Fourth Judicial Circuit. In addition to presiding over the Chesterfield Circuit Court, Judge J. Garland Jefferson, Jr. also presides over the Circuit Courts of Amelia, Dinwiddie, Nottoway and Powhatan Counties and the City of Petersburg. The association's resolution noted that it sometimes takes from 12 to 18 months to dispose of civil cases in the Circuit Court because of the congested docket.

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