Virginia Legal*Political Blog

Fifth District Rep. Tom Perriello will get a reward for his vote for the climate change bill in the form of radio spots paid for by ministers and military leaders who want to highlight the moral and national security implications of the issue.
The ads will run throughout Central Virginia on Christian, country and talk radio. [...]

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Legislative conferees wrangled for much of the afternoon today before finally agreeing on a legislative response to Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled, 5-4, in that case in June that prosecutors generally must present the analyst who prepared a report unless the defendant gets notice of the prosecution’s intent to rely on the report [...]

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The Senate Courts of Justice Committee produced legislation, Senate Bill 5003, this afternoon that its members hope will provide at least an interim response to Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled, 5-4, in Melendez that prosecutors generally must present the analyst who prepared a report unless the defendant gets notice of the prosecution’s intent [...]

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The Associated Press is reporting that legislators expect Gov. Kaine to announce an additional $1.3 billion in budget cuts tomorrow.
According to the AP’s sources, Kaine heard from state economists and other experts who are doubtful that a recovery from the recession is imminent.
Kaine will address the General Assembly’s money committees Tuesday morning.  The special session [...]

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When the members of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association gather next month at Harbor Park stadium (home of the Norfolk Tides), politics, not baseball, will be the pastime.
Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell, Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates, are scheduled for a joint appearance at the group’s Sept. 15 luncheon at Hits at the Park restaurant.  Game [...]

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell offered a package of law enforcement proposals yesterday.
The proposals are part of his public safety platform, reports The Virginian-Pilot. McDonnell’s plan inlcudes mandatory sentences for habitual drug dealers, lifetime monitoring for certain sex offenders and increased use of narcotics courts.
McDonnell acknowledged that the expansion of drug courts and higher number [...]

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