VA Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, P&E Committee Chair Sen. Aaron Rouse, Applaud VA Supreme Court Decision Affirming Balance of Powers re: Senate Rejection of Youngkin Appointments to University Boards

November 17, 2025

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See below for some reactions to today’s Virginia Supreme Court ruling “leaving in place a lower court’s order that blocked 22 of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s disputed appointments to Virginia’s university boards” (per VA Senate Privileges and Elections Committee Chair Aaron Rouse’s press release). As VA Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell says:

“Supreme Court of Virginia has affirmed the Senate P&E Committees authority to reject gubernatorial nominations because MAGA rules don’t work in Virginia where we still have a rule of law that Youngkin and Miyares have to follow”

Exactly – “MAGA rules don’t work in Virginia where we still have a rule of law that Youngkin and Miyares have to follow.” Unlike at the national level with Trump, given that the US Supreme Court is completely FUBAR.

P.S. For some background on this, see Video: VA Senate Democrats Reject Governor Youngkin’s University Appointments, Defend Virginia’s Higher Education from August 28 and Judge Sides with Virginia Democrats, Rules Youngkin’s Appointees Cannot Serve on Public College Boards from July 29, as well as Virginia Senate Leaders File Lawsuit Challenging Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Miyares’ Unconstitutional Overreach on University Board Appointments from June 24.

Senator Aaron Rouse Applauds Virginia Supreme Court Decision Affirming Balance of Powers

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Today, State Senator Aaron Rouse (D–Virginia Beach), chair of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, applauded the Virginia Supreme Court for leaving in place a lower court’s order that blocked 22 of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s disputed appointments to Virginia’s university boards.

“I’m happy that the Court chose not to take that up,” said Rouse. “It’s a good day for Virginia.”

Rouse said the decision reinforces a core value of the Commonwealth, ensuring that no one branch of government acts without proper checks and balances. “It just goes to show that in Virginia, we believe in the separation and balance of powers,” he added.

The Court’s decision keeps in place an earlier ruling confirming that the Senate has the authority to approve or reject gubernatorial appointments. Rouse and other Senate Democrats brought the case to protect that process and uphold the will of Virginia voters.

“Our system works best when everyone plays by the same rules,” Rouse said. “Today’s decision is a win for fairness, accountability, and the rule of law in our Commonwealth. “We have seen the politicization of independent agencies at the federal level, it’s good to see the courts maintaining independence free from political control.”

UPDATED 4:25 pm: