The VLW Blog

Challenging the government is not working out very well for Robert Steinburg. In 2005, he was tossed out of a Chesterfield County Planning Commission meeting and charged with disorderly conduct after a heated exchange with a commission member. His civil rights suit against the commission was tossed out by federal district Judge Robert Payne last [...]

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A search committee has recommended that Senior Assistant Bar Counsel Edward L. Davis head the disciplinary system of Virginia State Bar. Davis, 55, would succeed George W. Chabalewski, who is stepping down July 19 after two years in the job. Davis has been an assistant bar counsel for more than 14 years and had worked [...]

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A Roanoke County Circuit Court has declared void a civil union two women established in Vermont in 2002 before living in Virginia. Teresa Austin and Rebekah Austin lived together in Roanoke County until March 2007. In May 2007, Teresa filed a complaint seeking to dissolve the union. Teresa said in a deposition that Rebekah had [...]

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Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell says that he will appeal the 2-to-1 ruling by a 4th U.S. Court of Appeals panel that Virginia’s ban on so-called “partial-birth” abortions is unconstitutional. According to the report from the Daily Press (via AP), McDonnell will ask for review by the full appeals court on Monday.

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Bedford County Attorney Carl Boggess opines that the county is free to develop recreational facilities on a plot of land deeded in 1832 “to erect a poorhouse and work house forever.” As reported by the Roanoke Times, Boggess concludes that the word “forever” simply gives complete title.

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As reported by the Washington Times, we should get a ruling in about a month after yesterday’s hearing on the constitutionality of the Virginia law that impacts the ownership of land controlled by breakaway Episcopal churches. Meanwhile, the Hartford [Conn.] Courant reports that a breakaway church in Connecticut has thrown in the towel on a [...]

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Of the late Mr. Gouldman, the Free Lance-Star writes, “One of his most cherished accomplishments was his participation in successfully lobbying the [William & Mary] Board of Visitors against the proposed closing of the School of Law in 1939.”

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A federal affidavit accuses Woodbridge lawyer Stephen J. Conrad of bilking between 200 and 300 of his clients, pocketing at least $3.4 million in settlements, according to Inside Northern Virginia.

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A King George County circuit judge may entertain a rare court challenge to the way the local school district handles discipline appeals. The law allowing Virginia circuit courts to hear appeals of school discipline cases is restrictive by design. A disgruntled student or parent has only 30 days to file after an adverse school discipline [...]

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University of Richmond law professor Peter Swisher has been selected by Virginia’s Court of Appeals to serve as Court Reporter for Civil Cases. As explained in the release from the law school, the job involves advising, editing, and counseling the court as it drafts its opinions. No word on what this gig pays, but it’s [...]

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