The latest news and cases from the Supreme Court of Virginia
">VADA endorses six for Supreme Court seat Posted in Justices on Nov 23rd, 2010
The Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys has endorsed three Virginia Court of Appeals judges, two circuit judges and a civil defense litigator as highly qualified for a seat on the Supreme Court of Virginia. The Court of Appeals judges are Randolph A. Beales, D. Arthur Kelsey and Elizabeth A. McClanahan. The circuit judges are Pamela [...]
">Two more say they would like to replace Koontz Posted in Justices on Oct 20th, 2010
Two circuit judges – Joseph W. Milam Jr. from Danville and Pamela S. Baskervill of Petersburg – have added their names to those who are interested in succeeding Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. on the Supreme Court of Virginia. Milam and Baskervill are graduates of the University of Richmond law school and both were elected [...]
">Humphreys, Huff join Supreme Court competition Posted in Justices on Oct 6th, 2010
Robert J. Humphreys, a member of the Virginia Court of Appeals, and Glen A. Huff, a former law partner of Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, have asked to be considered for the vacancy on the Supreme Court of Virginia that will be created by the retirement of Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. Humphreys was a career [...]
L. Steven Emmert, perhaps the most active appellate attorney in state courts and the host of the popular www.virginia-appeals.com website, says he will seek the Supreme Court of Virginia seat that will be created by the retirement of Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. It will be interesting to follow his quest since he has neither [...]
">Witness evaluation separates trial, appellate judges Posted in Justices on Sep 27th, 2010
In a few parting words, soon-to-be-retired Justice Lawrence Koontz of the Supreme Court of Virginia offered insights about appellate practice and his role in it at a recent meeting of the Ted Dalton American Inn of Court. As reported by Roanoke lawyer and blogger Jay O’Keefe, Koontz said the difference between trial judges and appellate [...]
">High court’s newest justice calls for ‘return to first principles’ Posted in Justices, Supreme Court Opinions on Sep 20th, 2010
No, Justice William C. Mims was not announcing himself as a “strict constructionist.” He is, however, ready for some plain talk about the plain language of Virginia’s statute of repose, Virginia Code § 8.01-250. Builders depend on the statute of repose to cut off any chance for personal injury claims after five years. Mims, joined [...]
Update: 09/16/2010, 4:36 p.m. It was enough. Barely three hours after Crane appeared before the Supreme Court, it issued the following order: “Upon consideration of the apology proffered by William A. Crane, the Rule to Show Cause is dismissed.” An obviously nervous and contrite William A. Crane found at least one sympathetic member of the [...]
">Bar groups asked to help with Koontz replacement Posted in Justices on Sep 15th, 2010
Del. Dave Albo, the Fairfax Republican who chairs the House Courts of Justice Committee, has asked the Virginia State Bar to assist in reviewing candidates who want to succeed Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. on the Supreme Court of Virginia. Koontz has reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 and must step down in February. [...]
Update 09/15/2010, 9:35 a.m. William Crane will appear before the Supreme Court of Virginia at the end of its docket Thursday rather than this afternoon as originally scheduled. Crane is attending a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery today. The Supreme Court of Virginia invited Winchester attorney William A. Crane to write a brief not to [...]
">Kinser to be next chief justice Posted in Justices on Aug 31st, 2010
The Supreme Court of Virginia today selected Justice Cynthia D. Kinser to be the first woman to serve as chief justice of the court. Kinser is third in seniority on the court to the current chief, Leroy Rountree Hassell Sr., and Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. Hassell will step down on Jan. 31 after eight [...]
