Ex-Va. Judge Convicted of Attack
By The Associated Press

November 23, 1999

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) -- A former judge who authorities say pistol whipped a state legislator was convicted Tuesday of unlawful wounding.

Former Norfolk Judge Luther Edmonds had been charged with malicious wounding, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, but the Circuit Court jury found him guilty of the lesser charge, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The attack against state Det. William P. Robinson Jr. occurred nearly two years ago.

The jury also convicted Edmonds of unlawfully wearing a mask but acquitted him of using a firearm in the commission of a crime. The mask charge also carries a maximum of five years in prison.

Robinson, a Democrat, was attacked by a masked man in the parking lot outside his Norfolk law office on Dec. 29, 1997. The attacker bashed Robinson's face with a gun during a brief struggle, and Robinson needed 30 stitches.

Edmonds was arrested a week later after police matched a small plastic piece of a car grille found in the parking lot to a car Edmonds drove. Police surmised the piece broke off from under the front bumper as the car sped away.

Edmonds and Robinson were once friends and political allies but parted ways when Robinson disputed the reason Edmonds gave for resigning from the bench in 1996 after seven years in General District Court and one year in Circuit Court.
Edmonds' resignation came during a misconduct inquiry.