RICHMOND — A Senate committee has rejected legislation backed by Gov. Bob McDonnell that would have resulted in more juveniles being tried in adult court.

Republican Sen. Bill Stanley of Franklin County sponsored the bill to automatically transfer repeat violent offenders to adult court. The bill also would have allowed prosecutors to have juveniles charged with gang crimes or repeat drug offenses transferred to circuit court.

Several members of the Courts of Justice Committee said Monday that they were reluctant to take discretion from judges.

University of Richmond law professor Julie McConnell told the committee that in the six years she worked as a juvenile court prosecutor, she never had a case that should have gone to circuit court but didn’t.

The committee voted 11-4 to kill the measure.

– Associated Press