The VLW Blog

Two new names appeared in questionnaires submitted to the Virginia State Bar Wednesday, the final day for submitting paperwork to indicate an interest in a seat on the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Augusta County Circuit Judge Victor V. Ludwig and and Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources Maureen Matsen are the new applicants for the [...]

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The mandatory retirement age for Virginia judges would increase from 70 to 73 under a bill approved by the state Senate Monday. The bill could face an uphill battle on the House side of the General Assembly, however. The civil subcommittee of the House Courts committee already has killed two proposals to increase the mandatory [...]

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The Virginia State Bar’s deadline for candidates to request an interview for possible endorsement is tomorrow. There are two new names to add to the list of interested individuals: * Patricia Palmer Nagel, a solo practitioner in Williamsburg. * Montgomery County Circuit Judge Josiah T. Showalter Jr. There are five other previously reported possible candidates: [...]

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Federal Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman of Norfolk will retire in September, he says. Stillman, 65, tells The Virginian-Pilot he plans to enjoy his family and his expected first grandchild. Stillman’s legal career was not so placid. As lead attorney for the company that won exclusive salvage rights to Titanic artifacts, Stillman was aboard a [...]

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The Virginia General Assembly reelected incumbent judges today, but did not elect two former legislators to the bench. Former Front Royal delegate Clay Athey, a Republican, was up for a seat on the 26th Judicial Circuit in Harrisonburg and former delegate Bud Phillips of Castlewood, a Democrat, was nominated for the 30th General District Court [...]

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A political clash in the state Senate Tuesday delayed otherwise routine Virginia judicial elections at least until Thursday. Democrats and Republicans differed over whether to elect a slate of 49 judges that included two new faces – both former delegates. Democrats claimed they had an understanding that only incumbent judges would be up for re-election, [...]

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On the heels of the Senate courts committee’s judicial interviews last Friday, both legislative courts committees have certified incumbent judges for possible re-election by the General Assembly this week. Supreme Court Justice Donald W. Lemons has been certified for another 12-year term on the high court, and Fauquier prosecutor James P. Fisher has been approved [...]

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Candidates for the seat of retiring Court of Appeals Judge James Haley Jr.  face a round of interviews.  Not only will they sit down with representatives of the Virginia State Bar on Feb. 16, they also are invited to meet with several special interest bar groups. The Old Dominion Bar Association is making it easy [...]

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Culpeper Circuit Judge John G. “Jack” Berry is giving up his robe to return to private practice. Berry, who has served on the 16th Circuit bench since 2008, is stepping down to run the Charlottesville office of Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, Virginia’s largest personal injury law firm. Berry will join the firm on Feb. [...]

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Rebecca B. Connelly – the standing Chapter 13 bankruptcy trustee in the Western District – has been selected as a U.S. bankruptcy judge by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Connelly will succeed Bankruptcy Judge Ross W. Krumm as his term ends in August, according to a release from Chief U.S. District Judge Glen [...]

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