On the VSB and Gov. McDonnell

Return of appellate defender advocated

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: December 3, 2012

Dear Editor: I wanted to bring a crucial matter to the attention of the Virginia legal community: The critical need for a state appellate defender in our commonwealth. Sen. J. Chapman Petersen of Fairfax has introduced (for the second straight year) a budget amendment authorizing an Appellate Defender. It is a modest sum — $275,000 [...]

Stop the attack on the judicial branch

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: February 27, 2012

Dear Editor: Challenges to the freedoms protected by the constitution sometimes come in seemingly small and insignificant appearing increments. It should amaze most Americans to discover that the Constitution of the Soviet Union (you remember the Soviet Union: the gulags, the KGB, and the imprisoned dissidents) gave Soviet citizens the rights to free speech, assembly [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, as [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]