Virginia Legal*Political Blog

A bill that would allow the death penalty for accomplices in capital crimes has made it to the full House of Delegates. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, was designed to combat gang-related crimes, reports the Daily News-Record. The Courts of Justice Committee sent the bill to the full House by a vote [...]

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A plan for non-partisan redistricting that passed the Senate unanimously was killed in a House subcommittee yesterday. According to The Virginian-Pilot, SB926 would have put the task of redrawing voting districts in the hands of a seven-member commission, rather than the majority party. The General Assembly would have had the final say on the plan [...]

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The General Assembly is considering a bill that would excuse college students from jury duty while school is in session. The Daily Progress has an account of House Bill 2045.

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Virginia GOP chairman and Delegate Jeff Frederick, R-Woodbridge, will give up his seat in the House. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Frederick has faced continuing attacks on his chairmanship, largely from veteran activists who fault him as not doing enough to prevent GOP setbacks in the last election. His wife, Amy Frederick, is considering running [...]

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Prosecutors are backing bills to require a police investigation before someone could be arrested on a magistrate-issued felony warrant. The Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys backs the bill for two reasons, reports the Daily Press. First, cases with a lack of a police investigation are more likely fall apart in court. Second, it would help [...]

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The House of Delegates yesterday approved a bill to expand the death penalty to cover an accomplice in a killing who shares the triggerman’s intent to kill. The House voted 73-25 yesterday to expand Virginia’s “triggerman rule,” which reserves capital punishment for the person who actually does the killing, the Associated Press reports via the [...]

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An ignition interlock measure for DUI offenders has passed its second reading in the House of Delegates. The bill would require all first-time DUI offenders to equip their vehicles with breath-testing machines for six months, reports The Virginian-Pilot. The ignition interlock device prevents a vehicle from starting if it registers a BAC higher than .02. [...]

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Gov. Kaine and legislative leaders are announcing what they call a “landmark agreement” to pass a statewide smoking ban in Virginia’s bars and restaurants.  The only exceptions, they say, are for private clubs and restaurants with independently-ventilated smoking rooms.  The governor’s announcement is here. By Peter Vieth

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The House of Delegates yesterday passed a bill to let police chaplains pray to Jesus Christ, but the governor is threatening a veto. According to The Free Lance-Star, the issue arose after a federal appeals court upheld a Fredericksburg City Council ban on referring to Jesus Christ in council meeting prayers. Six Virginia State police [...]

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A House subcommittee refused to act on a bill that would require insurance companies to cover autism treatment for people under 21. The Virginian-Pilot reports that HB1588 would have covered $36,000 a year and exempt businesses with 25 or fewer employees. The bill went to a commerce and labor subcommittee Tuesday with and failed when [...]

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