Letters to the Editor « Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Lawyer opposes public notice bill

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: January 30, 2012

Dear Editor,
I have just seen a copy of Senate Bill 664, offered to the Senate Jan. 20, 2012, by its patron, Sen. Ralph K. Smith. The purpose of the bill is to amend and reenact §15.2-107.1 of the Virginia Code, by inserting “or instead of’ in the first line.
I am not aware as of this [...]

Bring back office of Appellate Defender

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: January 30, 2012

Dear Editor:
I write in support of the budget amendment introduced by Sen. Chap Petersen that will reestablish the Appellate Defender’s office.
In 2009, the Appellate Defender’s office was shuttered, a victim of budget cuts. Now we have an opportunity to reestablish this office on a small scale (the budget amendment is $275,000 for two attorneys [...]

Lawyer: Don’t use ‘mom’ and ‘dad’

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: August 30, 2011

Dear Editor,
My teeth clenched again yesterday as I read the digest of the opinion in Campbell v. Campbell, which appeared on Page 18 of your August 15 issue. Why is it that your writer refers to the parties in this family law case as “mom” and “dad” in the lead paragraph? Especially when, [...]

Pro bono partners respond to article

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: July 18, 2011

Dear Editor:
The July 11 article, “Mo’ Dough, No Pro Bono?”, is an unfortunate reflection on the value of pro bono legal services delivered by lawyers in the private bar in Virginia.
We are the pro bono partners in eight of Virginia’s largest law firms. We work in cooperation, on a regular basis, as Firms in [...]

Chief Justice asked to just say “no”

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: May 30, 2011
Tags: General Assembly, Justice Cynthia D. Kinser

Dear Editor:
I must initially state I am writing as a member of the bar of this state and not a government employee, as I am. The article, “Memo to judges: Be ready to discuss Hernandez,” in the May 16 issue, caused me concern as a citizen and a member of the bar.
“The accumulation of all [...]

Judicial independence is heart of the system

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: May 30, 2011

Dear Editor:
I have read with interest and dismay your May 23 editorial entitled, “A trap hidden in plain sight.” I find it reprehensible that four delegates, who are members of the House Courts of Justice Committee, would go so far to threaten the independence of the judiciary.
Competence, education, integrity and experience in the law should [...]

Two lawyer discipline cases contrasted

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: May 30, 2011
Tags: Lawyer Discipline

Dear Editor:
Two articles about lawyer discipline in your May 9 issue stand in remarkable contrast to each other.
In the first article (“Leesburg lawyer disbarred in Md. for forging papers”), you report that a lawyer tried to help a family of apparently modest means save $10,000 by avoiding probate and engaged in intentional dishonesty in furtherance [...]

On the VSB and Gov. McDonnell

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: March 28, 2011

Dear Editor:
I think the Virginia State Bar has made a grave mistake in how it has handled Gov. McDonnell’s attempt to raid the VSB contingent fund. Instead, we should be embracing the Governor’s attempt to say that the VSB is just another arm of the state government.
Just think about it, if we embrace this [...]

Hampton Roads has issues with appointed guardians, too

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: February 7, 2011
Tags: Domestic Relations

Dear Editor:
Thank you for your article on the decision of Northern Virginia judges to exercise more control over the appointment of guardians ad litem for minors, who have become “too cozy” with insurance companies in infant settlement cases (VLW, “Independent guardians,” Jan. 31, 2011).
A similar phenomenon occurs in public guardianship cases in the Hampton Roads [...]

Healthcare ‘controversy’ may not be ready for court

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: January 3, 2011

Dear Editor:
By now almost everyone knows that on Dec. 13, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson of Richmond held that the provision in the new healthcare law, requiring people without health insurance to obtain it or pay a penalty is unconstitutional. Judge Hudson found that this provision is unconstitutional because it exceeds Congress’ authority [...]

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