The VLW Blog

A circuit judge has turned aside Montgomery County’s objections to state funding for a Norfolk Southern Corp. intermodal rail facility in the county.
Richmond Circuit Judge Melvin Hughes ruled Nov. 18 that the state constitution does not bar public support of the private project under legislation aimed at reducing truck traffic on state highways.  Hughes’ letter [...]

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Corporate governance policy is the focus of an award-winning paper written by associate professor Christopher Bruner at the Washington & Lee law school.
Bruner was named the winner of the Association of American Law Schools 2010 Scholarly Papers Competition, for his paper “Power and Purpose in the ‘Anglo-American’ Corporation,” according to press release from the law [...]

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A new law review at the College of William & Mary will deal with business law issues.
According to a press release from the law school, the first issue of the student-edited William & Mary Business Law Review will be published in the spring.

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The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld today the enforcement of a custody order from North Carolina in favor of a male homosexual couple.
Both partners contributed sperm to artificially inseminate a Minnesota woman who agreed to be a surrogate mother.
The relatonship between the mother and the partners deteriorated, and a North Carolina judge resolved a custody [...]

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Conservative groups are joining with liberals in opposing what they see as government overreaching on crime.  The anomalous unity is playing out in appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, reports The New York Times.
The paper notes signs of an “emerging consensus on the right that the criminal justice system is an aspect of big government [...]

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The chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit says he will retire, according to The Wall Street Journal.  Paul Michel made the announcement Friday evening.  Circuit Judge Randall Rader will become chief judge on June 1.
According to the paper, Michel surprised many listeners Friday by saying he will be retiring [...]

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A Vermont judge has ruled in favor of the non-biological mother in a two-state battle arising from a same-sex partnership, reports the Rutland Herald .
The dispute between Janet Jenkins of Vermont and Lisa Miller of Virginia has played out in courtrooms of both states for several years.  The couple split in 2003 and have fought [...]

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Neil H. MacBride was formally sworn in today as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry C. Morgan Jr., a judge for whom he clerked 17 years ago in Norfolk.
Another former boss, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, participated in the ceremony in the Alexandria federal courthouse.
MacBride was confirmed [...]

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A group of 40 Gloucester County residents, eager to test an award of sanctions for seeking the ouster of local officials, finally has a case on the docket at the Supreme Court of Virginia.
As reported by the Daily Press , the citizens filed their petition for appeal Wednesday at the high court.
The citizens had petitioned [...]

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A newspaper that wants to publish legal notices does not need a court order, a Norfolk Circuit Court ruled today in In Re: Dow Jones & Co.
Newspapers that meet the requirements of Va. Code § 8.01-324(A) may publish legal notices; no court ruling is necessary, said Norfolk Circuit Judge Charles E. Poston. He [...]

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