The VLW Blog

Despite a series of circuit court opinions frowning on the practice, the so-called “speaking objection” during a deposition has never been expressly barred under Virginia court rules. That situation will change Jan. 1 with a package of rule changes approved by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Rule 4:5, governing depositions in circuit court civil actions, [...]

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Six attorneys are seeking election to the seat of retiring Charlottesville Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge Dwight Johnson. The candidates came before the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association Monday night, The Daily Progress reports. They are: David B. Franzen, a Charlottesville attorney and substitute judge Elizabeth V. Killeen, Charlottesville assistant commonwealth’s attorney Darby G. Lowe, Albemarle County [...]

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Former Congressional candidate Wayne Powell, who lost to Rep. Eric Cantor, has agreed to a reprimand for his handling of litigation arising from workplace injuries The complaint, which came to light during Powell’s campaign against Cantor,  accused the Midlothian lawyer of not being forthcoming about a lawsuit he filed against contractors who did roof repairs [...]

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The new proposed slate of officers for the Virginia Bar Association includes Richmond’s Harry M. “Pete” Johnson III. Johnson has been nominated for chair of the VBA executive committee, a post that puts him in the leadership pipeline to the VBA presidency. Johnson, a partner at Hunton & Williams, is a trial lawyer focusing on [...]

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After 12 years as commonwealth’s attorney, Harvey Bryant says he will leave office at the end of next year when his term expires. Bryant tells The Virginian-Pilot he will support his second-in-command, Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle, in the election next year. Bryant, 66, said he decided this past fall that he would retire [...]

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The Virginia State Bar has reprimanded a Martinsville lawyer for filing a lawsuit the judge called “dead on arrival.” William Swezey sued three people on behalf of a veterinarian who was angered by allegations against him at a hearing on his professional license. The lawsuit claimed the witnesses at the hearing conspired to lie and [...]

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There are judges and then there are Barbecue Judges. When a candidate for statewide office declares he is a certified World Championship Barbecue Judge, the claim begs to be fact-checked, with close examination of any evidence. The Washington Post applied a microscope to the claim of Pete Snyder and declared him bona fide. Snyder even [...]

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In a case closely watched by local governments and law enforcement, a Virginia county is hoping to overturn a ruling allowing a former criminal defendant to get access to a police officer’s personnel records. To say the least, Adam Ewing scored a major blow in May using the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The James [...]

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A former staffer at a Norfolk law firm received both a scolding and a year behind bars for embezzling more than $100,000 from the firm. Kristi Rind, 34, had worked for Warren & Associates for 12 years as an assistant, paralegal and bookkeeper, reports The Virginian-Pilot. “She became a very trusted and loyal employee,” said [...]

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Two members of the staff of Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th – both lawyers – have been selected for his senior staff for the House Judiciary Committee where Goodlatte will take office as chairman. Shelley Husband will serve as chief of staff and Branden Ritchie will become deputy chief of staff and chief counsel, according to [...]

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