Portsmouth General District Court clerk resigns suddenly following office review

The clerk of the Portsmouth General District Court abruptly resigned last week, days after officials with the Virginia Supreme Court’s Office of the Executive Secretary wrapped up a review of his office.

James Verschueren offered no reason for quitting the job he’d held for almost three years, but in a letter of resignation addressed to the court’s chief judge he referenced some unspecified “tension” among his staff.

“I have arrived at this decision after much soul-searching and understand that this decision is in the best interest of you, your fellow judges, the staff, this court and myself,” he wrote in the Oct. 9 letter, explaining his resignation was effective immediately. “While I had hoped to give this court ample notice, I do not think my continued presence here will help the situation.”

Kristi Wright, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Executive Secretary, declined to comment on Verschueren’s departure. She called it a personnel matter.

Verschueren also declined to comment.

Wright said the Office of the Executive Secretary staff routinely visit general district court clerks’ offices to provide training and technical assistance, as well as “review case and workflow processes.” After Verschueren requested such a review over the summer, a visit was scheduled for the week of Sept. 30 in Portsmouth.

Employees of the clerk’s office said OES staff briefed Verschueren and Chief General District Judge Doug Ottinger on Friday, Oct. 4, regarding their finding. After work the following Wednesday, Verschueren dropped letters on various desks in the office saying goodbye.

Wright declined to say what the review found. She said she anticipated a report would eventually be prepared, though.

Verschueren replaced Lenna Jo Davis in January 2017. Davis had served as a clerk in the office for more than four decades, taking over the top spot in August 2007.