The VLW Blog

Those of you who relish a good old-fashioned separation of powers dustup will enjoy this item. Those of you who hate to see the courts, especially the Supreme Court of Virginia, pulled into a smashmouth political battle won’t be so happy. A number of legislators didn’t like it when the Supreme Court tried to tell [...]

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WILLIAMSBURG—The Virginia Law Foundation inducted 15 new Fellows last night at its annual dinner. The inductees were: • William L. Botts III, Rappahannock Legal Services, Fredericksburg • Ann T. Burks, Ethyl Corporation (retired), Richmond • Lori Elliott Jarvis, Hunton & Williams, Richmond • Phyllis C. Katz, Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, Richmond • Neil S. [...]

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The Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys has invited the eight candidates for the vacancy on the Virginia Court of Appeals to appear at a forum Monday at 4:30 p.m. in the Moot Courtroom at the University of Richmond. UR law professor Ronald J. Bacigal will moderate the program. It is open to the public, and [...]

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Fairfax Circuit Judge Gaylord L. Finch Jr. and Chesterfield County Circuit Judge Timothy J. Hauler were left off the list of incumbent judges and pro tempore appointees given full terms today. The Northern Virginia delegation had asked the House and Senate Courts of Justice committees to withhold certification of Finch for reappointment until it can [...]

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Gov. Timothy M. Kaine cancelled a governor’s mansion reception when he discovered it was being advertised as a fundraiser for a political group. According to the Washington Post, a political action committee formed to help Democratic women seek elected office asked for donations from $25 to $1,000. The solicitation, posted on a liberal fundraising Web site, invited [...]

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Officials hope Portsmouth Circuit Court will be open for business today. The Virginian-Pilot reports the court closed at noon yesterday because the heat hadn’t been working for two days. City officials say the heat is working properly now, and court employees were told to report for work today unless they heard otherwise.

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It must have been an exciting day at Black, Noland & Read in Staunton when Steven Frenger came looking for legal help back in July. According to the Waynesboro News Virginian, Frenger became agitated and forcibly held one attorney captive in his office on Barrister’s Row.  Five police officers responded and Frenger was not taken [...]

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A Wise County man pleaded guilty yesterday to burning down the High Knob observation tower. According to the Bristol Herald-Courier, Nicholas Owens, age 23, was a volunteer firefighter when he and co-defendant Christopher Hyatt set the fires on Halloween of 2007. The tower, which stood at an elevation of 4,162 feet, overlooked five states and [...]

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The 10th Annual Conference on Public Service and the Law will be held Jan. 30 and 31 at the University of Virginia law school. The program will feature both U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. and author John Grisham. Visit the U.Va. law school Web site for details and a complete schedule.

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The Northern Virginia delegation to the General Assembly wants to take a second look at Fairfax Circuit Judge Gaylord L. Finch Jr., who is up for reappointment for an eight-year term. Last Thursday, the House and Senate Courts of Justice Committees certified to the legislature all other incumbent judges seeking reappointment. The General Assembly is scheduled [...]

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