Chesterfield hits drunken drivers with a second whack

Collections ‘best practices’ adopted

By Peter Vieth
Published: November 26, 2012
Tags: Consumer Protection, Creditor's Rights, General District Courts

Stricter requirements for collections lawsuits by so-called “debt buyers” are spreading in Virginia. A set of “best practices” adopted by Fairfax County general district judges three years ago to ensure the integrity of the court’s judgments have inspired guidelines imposed by judges in Newport News, the Roanoke Valley and – expected soon – the Richmond [...]

Coming clean: Free legal help under scrutiny

By Peter Vieth
Published: October 8, 2012
Tags: Criminal, General District Courts

Public payment for indigent criminal defendants has been a bedrock legal protection since Gideon’s trumpet blew in 1963. But some criminal defendants sound a false note when they ask to have counsel appointed at public expense. They may fail to come clean about their finances, hoping no one will notice their income or their property [...]

Benchbook Bounty: Judges’ guidebook helps busy lawyers

By Peter Vieth
Published: September 24, 2012
Tags: General District Courts, Practice Tips

A little-used resource can give lawyers in Virginia a big boost when they head into the courtroom. It is authoritative and available at no charge. This value-filled vault can be unlocked at the click of a mouse. It’s the District Court Judges’ Benchbook. The Benchbook is a guide for general district and juvenile and domestic [...]

Traffic law on texting may need tightening

By Peter Vieth
Published: September 10, 2012
Tags: General Assembly, General District Courts, Traffic Offenses

A judge’s dismissal of a reckless driving charge after a fatal auto accident could lead to changes in the way Virginia regulates texting by drivers. Fairfax General District Court Judge Thomas E. Gallahue said the General Assembly had tied his hands in the case against Jason Gage, who allegedly had been texting. Evidence of texting, [...]

Teen athlete hurt in T-bone crash – $25,000 Verdict

By Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Published: September 10, 2012
Tags: General District Courts, Personal Injury

The plaintiff, age 13, was a passenger in his mother’s car when it was T-boned by the defendant. The teen, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision, hit his head on the side window and hurt his neck and shoulder. Plaintiff was, and still is, a superb athlete and his medical [...]

Judges split over new interlock law for DUIs

By Peter Vieth
Published: July 30, 2012
Tags: Bar Associations, Criminal, DUI, General District Courts

Virginia judges have split in their application of the new ignition interlock law for first-time DUI offenders. Some judges have applied it only to cases in which the offense occurred after the law went into effect on July 1. Others have applied the new law to cases in which the driver was stopped before July [...]

High court debuts judicial mentorship program

By Peter Vieth
Published: July 16, 2012
Tags: General District Courts, Judgeships, Justice Cynthia D. Kinser, Justice LeRoy F. Millette Jr.

If you’ve ever been isolated in a new job, wondering who to turn to for answers to simple questions as you learned the ropes, you can appreciate the plight of a rural judge who has just donned the robe. Miles from other judges in the circuit or district, the new judge ponders who to call [...]

Richmond judges pick Thorne-Begland

By The Associated Press
Published: June 26, 2012
Tags: General Assembly, General District Courts, Judgeships, Richmond Circuit Court

(AP) The Richmond Circuit Court on June 14 appointed a gay Richmond prosecutor to a General District Court judgeship a month after legislators blocked the appointment. Chief Judge Richard D. Taylor Jr. signed an order naming Tracy Thorne-Begland to the seat beginning July 1. His appointment will expire 30 days after the start of the [...]

NoVa wants more say on court study panel

By Peter Vieth
Published: June 22, 2012
Tags: Bar Associations, General Assembly, General District Courts, Judge Thomas D. Horne, Judgeships, Justice Cynthia D. Kinser

Northern Virginia lawyers and legislators are pushing for more representatives from their region on the committee that will oversee a study of how judges should be allocated in Virginia. The Fairfax Bar Association and 31 General Assembly members have sent separate letters to Chief Justice Cynthia D. Kinser asking her to appoint additional members from [...]