where she worked as a prosecutor in the Commonwealth Attorney’s office. Violent crime cases became her specialty. “When you get a case as a prosecutor, there are numerous people you’ll be working with. There’s the investigator, forensics people, maybe even specialists about a particular aspect of the case,� she added. “It can take weeks, months and even years to get a case to the point that it’s ready to take to trial.� “There are a lot of variables when you go to trial as to what justice might be,� the new judge said. “Is the person a past offender where a jail term is called for, or is the defendant someone who just made a mistake and maybe community service is appropriate?� Almost five years ago, Hoehl came back to Hanover as the chief deputy prosecutor in the Commonwealth Attorney’s office. “I’ve always wanted to come back to Hanover County, and this was a great opportunity,� she said. Now opportunity has knocked again. “In a normal five-day week as a judge, I’ll have one day of criminal court and four days of dealing with family issues. I might deal with foster care issues, child support issues, child custody issues or almost any family issues that are causing problems. My goal is to help these people and give them the support needed to become a whole family again.� Hoehl has plenty of support at home. Her husband Andrew is an Investigator for the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office.
“We’ve had quite a few discussions about my becoming a judge. To avoid any conflict of interest, I’ll not try his cases. I haven’t tried any as a prosecutor and will not as a judge. When one of his cases comes up, Judge Patricia Kelly will come down from Spotsylvania [County] to hear it and I’ll go there.� Hoehl’s last day in the Commonwealth Attorney’s office was June 24. Before she heard her first case on July 1, she had to attend New Judge’s School. “It’s in Richmond and there will be a courtroom where mock trials will be held. New judges from all over Virginia will be there. We’ll hear cases and there will be actors playing the various roles. Then, we’ll render decisions. There will be experienced judges present who will talk with us about how we’ve done in class and also about expectations we must now strive to meet.� When asked what kind of judge she was going to be, she had an honest answer. “I don’t know. I think a lot of people expect me to be a hard-nosed judge. I believe a judge has to be able to listen, know the rules of evidence and be fair in the way he interprets the law and the decision he hands down. “I’m going to be one of the younger judges (38) and I think that’s good. I’m sure I’ll make mistakes, but I plan to be doing this for a long time. So, I’ve got a long time to work at getting it right.� And she didn’t even need a scarecrow, tin man or cowardly lion to help her.
ville Fencing Academy, Cold Harbor Antique Mall, Zachary Strauss, DDS, Continued from pg. 1 Nicholas Germane-Orthodontist, minor in education. Mechanicsville Masonry, Second Hand Taylor’s sponsors are: All Aboard Rose, Shape-Up Hair for Men, and A Child Development Center, Mechanics- Appliance Repair.
The pageant winner receives $1,000 cash, the official crown and banner, a bouquet of roses, and air transportation to compete in the national pageant in California. National competitors receive a tour of Hollywood and tickets to Disneyland.
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my mother and go upstairs and watch court. I’d watch Nina try cases and daydream about what it would be like if I was the judge.� Hoehl, isHanover County native, is the daughter of parents John and Helen O’Connell. She said her parents have always supported her interest in the law. “While mom was a paralegal most of my childhood, before I was born, my father had been a police officer,� she said. “Even after he left police work, he had a great sense of justice and how important it was in someone’s life.� Hoehl’s undergraduate degree is in history from Virginia Tech. “I just loved going to class and listening to my history professors tell me a story,� she said. “I made good grades and a lot of it was because I was able to remember what the professor had told me in class about a subject.� She said having a good memory is an attribute all lawyers and judges need. “My legal career, up to this point ,has been as a prosecutor, where you have to be able to study and remember the facts of a case, especially when you are trying to sell your case to a jury. As a judge, you have to be able to remember the facts lawyers present to the court so you can make a fair and just decision.� After graduating from law school at DePaul, she returned to Newport News
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The Mechanicsville Local
July 13, 2011
EDWARDS
WINANS Continued from pg. 1
said Winans, “but our board has worked together with staff to keep the tax rate the lowest in the region, even while less revenue was coming into the county. We decided to make budget cuts everywhere we could instead of laying off valuable employees. Our efforts proved worthwhile when our county received a triple-AAA bond rating in May 2010, our public school system ranked as
one of the top in Virginia while at the same time being one of the lowest in per student costs, and our sheriff ’s department continued to maintain a low crime rate and keep our neighborhoods safe.“ Winans currently serves as a representative to the Capital Area Alcohol Safety Action Program board, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission. She also serves on the board’s Finance and Rules com-
mittees, as well as being the board representative on the Historical Commission, Social Services Board and Hanover’s Promise. Having completed the Virginia Association of County’s Certified County Supervisor Program in 2009, Winans also participated in the Leadership Metro Richmond Program in 2010. She said she brings the knowledge gained from both programs back to Hanover to better serve its citizens. “I really do appreciate the
confidence the citizens of Mechanicsville showed in me four years ago by electing me to this position.� Winans said. “I’ve done my best to represent the values and concerns of the citizens I serve. I’m committed to maintaining the great achievements we’ve been able to accomplish here in Hanover County, and I would appreciate the opportunity to return to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors for another four years to continue to improve the county’s service to its citizens.�