The VLW Blog

The Virginia State Bar Council will have more of a say over the regulations governing mandatory continuing legal education according to a rule change adopted by the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Under the changes, the council could reject amendments or regulations from the MCLE Board by a two-thirds vote of council.
Moreover, any regulations would have to [...]

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Leroy R. Hassell Jr., son of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, pleaded guilty to robbery and two other charges Thursday, apparently with no deal on sentencing, reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
A life sentence is possible, according to the paper.
Hassell admitted taking part in a two-man robbery using an “airsoft” gun, a type [...]

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The Virginia Judicial Council recommended yesterday the adoption of a rule on juror privacy that leaves the matter largely to the discretion of the trial judge rather than having jurors in criminal cases identified only by number as a matter of course.
The original proposal, which would have jurors identified by numbers in all cases, [...]

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Robert J. Humphreys, a member of the Virginia Court of Appeals, and Glen A. Huff, a former law partner of Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, have asked to be considered for the vacancy on the Supreme Court of Virginia that will be created by the retirement of Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr.
For more details, Virginia Lawyers [...]

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L. Steven Emmert, perhaps the most active appellate attorney in state courts and the host of the popular www.virginia-appeals.com website, says he will seek the Supreme Court of Virginia seat that will be created by the retirement of Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr.
Virginia Lawyers Weekly subscribers can visit The SCoVA Blog for more details.

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The Supreme Court of Virginia held its writ panel session earlier this month, and has issued the first flush of petitions for appeal granted.
Nursing home arbitration, the slayer statute, and an allegedly excessive $9 million jury award are among the issues that the court has agreed to hear.
Meanwhile, the court has refused to [...]

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The Virginia State Bar and the statewide volunteer bars have set up the machinery for vetting candidates who want to succeed Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. on the Supreme Court of Virginia
The bars are asking for written materials to be submitted to them by Oct. 29. The VSB’s judicial nominating committee and corresponding groups from [...]

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Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Virginia published 17 opinions. Virginia Lawyers Weekly subscribers can read our analysis of the following cases on The SCoVA Blog:
An invalid order, but no standing to challenge it
What happens when a judge without authority to hear an ex parte petition grants it anyway and no party has standing to object [...]

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Update: 09/16/2010, 4:36 p.m.
It was enough. Barely three hours after Crane appeared before the Supreme Court, it issued the following order: “Upon consideration of the apology proffered by William A. Crane, the Rule to Show Cause is dismissed.”
An obviously sincere apology may be enough to get Winchester attorney William A. Crane out of the Supreme [...]

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Del. Dave Albo, the Fairfax Republican who chairs the House Courts of Justice Committee, has asked the Virginia State Bar to assist in reviewing candidates who want to succeed Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. on the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Koontz has reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 and must step down in February.
Virginia [...]

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