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Entries from December 2008

McQuinn likely to take mayor-elect’s seat in House

December 8th, 2008 · No Comments · ELECTIONS, MEMBERS

Richmond City Councilwoman Delores L. McQuinn won the Democratic nomination to succeed Richmond Mayor-Elect Dwight Clinton Jones on Saturday.
McQuinn prevailed over attorney Carlos Brown at a Democratic firehouse primary, 398-82. McQuinn had supported the mayoral bid of Jones, who has served in the House of Delegates since 1994.
Jones becomes mayor Jan. 1; a special election [...]

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Inherent authority bill won’t be revived

December 4th, 2008 · No Comments · APPEALS

A short session, money woes and strong opinions on the House Courts of Justice Committee have killed any chance of a legislative resolution next year of the issue of the inherent authority of judges to defer a finding of guilty.
House Bill 553, introduced  in the 2008 session of the General Assembly by House Majority Leader [...]

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New judgeship requests deferred

December 4th, 2008 · No Comments · JUDGESHIPS

Belts continue to tighten in the judicial branch.
In compliance with state statutes, the Supreme Court has made its annual report to the General Assembly on the need for new judgeships in the commonwealth.
In correspondence Dec. 1 from Supreme Court Executive Secretary Karl Hade to the House and Senate Courts of Justice Committees, the Council said [...]

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Anti-abortion license plate proposed

December 2nd, 2008 · No Comments · LICENSE PLATES

Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax, wants anti-abortion advocates to be able to wear their politics on their license plates.
In September, he prefiled Senate Bill 801, which would authorize the issuance of a Virginia license plate with the slogan, “CHOOSE LIFE.”
SB 801 also dictates how some of the funds raised by issuance of the tag would be used, to [...]

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Bill would nix texting while driving

December 2nd, 2008 · No Comments · TRAFFIC

It would be illegal to send a text message while driving a car under a bill prefiled last month.
It also would be illegal to send a text message while riding a bike or operating a moped, under House Bill 1615, introduced by Del. Algie T. Howell Jr., D-Norfolk.
A violation would be a traffic infraction punishable [...]

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Med-mal cap won’t be issue in 2009

December 2nd, 2008 · 1 Comment · MEDICAL MALPRACTICE, PERSONAL INJURY

The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association was ready to fight for an increase in the cap on medical malpractice damages.
The Medical Society of Virginia was girding for battle as well.
Stay tuned until 2010.
The 1999 agreement that gradually raised the med-mal cap from $1 million to $2 million expired last summer. It appeared to be the top [...]

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