The VLW Blog

At the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association annual gathering, the Criminal Law section meeting is a time for war stories, anecdotes and general hilarity. Last week, New Kent Circuit Judge Thomas Hoover recalled a session from the courtroom of federal district Judge D. Dortch Warriner. As Hoover told it, Jimmy Morris was arguing a point with [...]

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Granted, the General Assembly’s treatment of Court of Appeal Judge Robert J. Humphreys is shameful. No one seems to suggest that he is unworthy of appointment to a second eight-year term, but he has fallen victim to political infighting that resulted in the failure of the legislature to fill about 30 vacancies and reappoint him [...]

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The second annual Legal Food Frenzy starts Monday and runs through April 11. The competition among law firms for the Attorney General’s Cup is aimed at raising a million pounds of food, a substantial increase over the 679,000 pounds raised last year. The drive is being coordinated by the Young Lawyers Division of the Virginia [...]

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Andy Block of Charlottesville thinks that too many children accused of crime are getting caught up in the adult justice system, only to be handed juvenile sentences when they emerge from court. Block – a much-honored child advocate – will address the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association this morning at the group’s annual convention at The [...]

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It’s official. The civil remedial fees for motorists convicted of driving crimes ended today with the signature of Gov. Tim Kaine on Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1243. The emergency legislation provides for refunds for those who have already paid a portion of the fees and excuses them from further payment. It even provides [...]

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As reported lately, some disgruntled mortgage customers react to foreclosure notices by burning down their homes. A Floyd County woman was not so vindictive, but still ended up facing felony theft charges. According to the Floyd Press, Elizabeth Ann Ledger was accused of yanking light fixtures, appliances, a bathroom vanity and a claw-footed bathtub from [...]

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Frankly, I am scared to try to say anything funny here. Insert your favorite Chuck Norris fact. Here‘s the news item from the Lynchburg News & Advance.

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Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor lately has been offering pointed public opinions on various topics, most often on the judicial selection process in the states. Today, at Virginia Military Institute, she turned her sights on military justice. According to this item from the Roanoke Times website, she “chided America’s political leaders for not [...]

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What part of de novo don’t you understand? That was the question the Virginia Court of Appeals had for Colonial Heights Circuit Judge Timothy J. Hauler. A mother appealed a juvenile and domestic relations district court’s award of custody of her minor child to its father. At the beginning of the custody hearing Hauler told [...]

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“Dunder Mifflin” sounds a lot like the name of a law firm, but any fan of NBC’s “The Office” knows that they don’t practice law at Dunder Mifflin, they sell paper. U.S. News & World Report publishes an annual career guide, and this year, they use the Scrantonians from the TV show to illustrate a [...]

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