The budget deal Virginia Democrats have proposed is now on Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D.)’s desk provides $100,000 for a monument honoring a former Circuit Court judge who admitted having a sexual relation with the mother of a convicted killer while providing legal assistance in her son’s cases.
Grace Church claimed that Onzlee ware, a circuit court judge in Roanoke City at the time, promised to intervene on behalf of her son who was accused of killing a man by beating him to death. She also claimed that she provided legal assistance such as reviewing and annotating psychological evaluations and editing remarks to be delivered at her son’s sentence. Church wrote that before he could offer advice, he “had to have sex” with him in each encounter.
The Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission was prompted by the accusation to suspend Ware and launch a investigation. He admitted the sexual relationship, and he provided legal advice. However, the investigation did not confirm that he acted on a “quid pro quo” basis or that he pressed the trial judge. The investigation did determine that Ware had violated two canons requiring judges to maintain independence, impartiality, and integrity. He was placed on a 12-month agreement of supervision. He died a few months later after a short fight with cancer.
It was about two and a quarter years after the conclusion of the investigation that Democrats proposed a budget to honor Ware, an ex-Democratic state legislator. It includes an $100,000 amendment for “the City of Roanoke” to support commemoration. an earlier version stated that the funds were for “a statue dedicating to Judge Onzlee ware as the centerpiece” of a plaza named after him.
The budget was passed mainly along party lines on Monday and sent to Spanberger. has praised the plan, but she has not indicated whether or not she will approve it. She has one week to sign, amend, or veto the bill.
Spanberger has pledged to make affordability a central part of her administration. She can also veto line-items. However, she did not respond when asked about funding for the statue.
According to Cardinal News, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Luke Torian (D.), fought for the funding of Ware’s monument. State delegate Sam Rasoul said Ware, the first black delegate and second black judge in western Virginia, according to Cardinal News “was a bit mentor to Torian,” who has lauded the deceased adjudicator as “a great statesman,” “a gentleman,” and a treasure to the General Assembly.
Both Torian and Rasoul did not respond to requests for comment.
Ware began working with Church’s son in 2019, when Timothy Church was charged with murder for allegedly beating a motel manager, 60, to death using a baseball bat. Police found Timothy Church standing on top of the manager’s daughter and wife, who had suffered fractured bones. Church was also charged with malicious wounding and three counts of attempted theft.
Grace Church continued to receive help from Ware even after her son’s conviction. She claimed that Ware had promised her son a sentence of less than seven years, but Timothy Church received a sentence of life plus 55 years.
Grace Church stated that Ware “never contacted me again” after the sentence was handed down. She added that she felt “cheap and used” and “didn’t want to continue living any longer.” Grace Church’s court filing was part of Timothy Church 2023’s bid for a retrial in light of Ware’s involvement. This bid was refused.
