In a surprise move this afternoon the Republican-controlled Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee advanced failed Republican gubernatorial candidate and avid culture warrior, climate denier, and Planned Parenthood foe Ken Cuccinelli to the Senate floor for a vote to fill a vacant seat on the state supreme court. The seat is vacant because the Republican-controlled Senate earlier ousted Democratic governor Terry McAuliffe’s recess-appointed justice and then failed to get their own nominee through the Senate.
http://bluevirginia.us/2016/03/breaking-virginia-republicans-nominate-the-cooch-to-state-supreme-court
Cuccinelli was Virginia’s former elected Attorney General and took hardline positions requiring abortion clinics to meet hospital-level standards (through interpreting administrative regulations), went after famed climate scientist Michael Mann, and pursued a right-wing agenda. This did not go over well with the voters who rejected him in his gubernatorial bid which saw rookie Democrat McAuliffe handily defeat him.
The Committee action was on a straight party-line vote and was a surprise move, which could lead to floor action and a resulting 12-year judicial appointment as early as this week.