Virginia's Democratic senators announced today that they are recommending Virginia Supreme Court Justice Barbara M. Keenan for a seat on the 4th Circuit appeals court.

"Senator (Mark) Warner and I jointly recommended Justice Barbara Keenan to serve on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals based on her exceptional qualifications and comprehensive legal experience in the Commonwealth," Sen. Jim Webb said.

Keenan, 59, has served on the Virginia Supreme Court since 1991. Before that, she was a judge on the General District and Circuit Courts of Fairfax County and the Virginia Court of Appeals. She also has worked as an assistant prosecutor in Fairfax, Va., and as an attorney in private practice.