The VLW Blog

The Virginia Women Attorneys Association will honor three “Leaders in Diversity Initiatives” at its biennial conference at the Kingsmill Resort outside Williamsburg on Oct. 1-2. For their success in promoting diversity in the bench and bar, the VWAA will honor former Virginia State Bar president Manuel A. Capsalis; Hon. Cleo E. Powell, of the Virginia [...]

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It wasn’t even the “lightning round” of a popular radio quiz show. But a Juilliard-trained judge from Richmond just became the “fastest contestant in six years” of play on NPR’s “PT Piano Puzzler” with Bruce Adolphe. Every Wednesday, composer Adolphe re-writes a popular melody in the style of a classical composer and challenges a listener [...]

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Is Texas Hold ‘em a game of skill or a game of chance? A Portsmouth circuit judge will get to answer that conundrum. The former owner of a poker hall in Portsmouth has challenged a decision by the commonwealth’s attorney, who said poker is a game of chance and therefore outlawed by the state’s gambling [...]

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The warrantless placement of a GPS tracking device under the bumper of a work van driven by a registered sex offender did not violate his Fourth Amendment rights, the Virginia Court of Appeals said today. In Foltz v. Commonwealth, an appellate panel upheld a 2008 decision by Arlington County Circuit Judge Joanne Alper. Defendant David [...]

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After five years managing Virginia International Raceway, former Sands Anderson lawyer Josh Lief will return to a Richmond practice. Lief, whose racing career was highlighted in a 2009 VLW article, has missed his legal practice, according to The Gazette-Virginian. He said he was recently given the opportunity to practice law in public service. The offer [...]

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Recent VLW coverage has ranged from “dog law” to the wreck of the Titanic. Now, these seemingly disparate tracks converge, as we note the “World’s First Tribute to the Dogs Onboard the Titanic.” Promoted on a highway billboard outside Branson, Missouri, this special exhibit is part of “Titanic: World’s Largest Museum Attraction,” which opened in [...]

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Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says district courts have the same authority to impose sanctions as circuit courts under both Virginia Code § 8.01-271.1 and their inherent authority to protect the public and the judicial process. Cuccinelli reached that conclusion in an opinion requested by Barbara J. Gaden, chief judge of the Richmond General District Court. [...]

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Roanoke Valley lawyers used to reminding clients to turn off their cellphones when they go to court soon will have to tell the clients to leave the phones at home. A new policy for the 23rd Circuit (Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Salem) bars possession and use of electronic devices for the general public. The [...]

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Mark Rubin, a senior advisor to former Gov. Tim Kaine, yesterday became the chief lobbyist for Virginia Commonwealth University. Rubin’s official title is executive director government relations, slightly different than that of his predecessor, Don Gehring, who was vice president for government relations, but VCU spokeswoman Pam Lepley said Rubin’s duties will be essentially the [...]

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