The VLW Blog

Former Lancaster County Commonwealth’s Attorney C. Jeffers Schmidt Jr. is accused of destroying a public record last year as he ran unsuccessfully for re-election. Schmidt faces a misdemeanor charge in the case. Court records indicate he was arrested Nov. 6 and the Northern Neck News reports he was arraigned Wednesday in Lancaster County General District [...]

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Accused of assault, breaking bond by trespassing and a handful of traffic violations, an Abingdon lawyer came away from court with only a speeding conviction. Berry L. Conway faced charges over a series of incidents that occurred in June. He was arrested three times over the course two weeks, accused of being drunk in public, [...]

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A Norfolk criminal defense attorney was arrested days after he allegedly yelled accusations against his client’s co-defendant in a courtroom hallway. Herman C. Smith III is being held without bond in the Norfolk City Jail on a felony obstruction of justice charge, reports The Virginian-Pilot. The incident occurred on Tuesday after a preliminary hearing in [...]

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While the General Assembly considers stripping some law enforcement revenue from local governments, the battle over speeding ticket revenue came to a head in a Hopewell courtroom Thursday. City prosecutor Rick Newman moved to turn all the city’s local speeding charges into state charges, denying the city about $2 million in annual revenue. A judge [...]

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“You are an example for everybody,” a substitute judge told Galax attorney James T. Ward Friday as he sentenced Ward to 30 days in jail. The sentence calls for Ward to serve the time on weekends. Other penalties include a three-year OL suspension,  $500 fine and VASAP classes. Ward was stopped after an officer saw [...]

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The House Courts committee has killed a bill designed to keep evidence in district court civil cases from the eyes of circuit judges hearing the cases on appeal. House Bill 284 took aim at circuit judges inclined to prejudge a district court case before hearing the evidence in new proceedings. When a lower court decision [...]

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Charlottesville lawyer Frank Buck will appear in court today, defending a misdemeanor charge that he assaulted a client. According to an account in The Hook, Charlottesville’s alternative weekly, Buck and a client argued in a J&DR courtroom during a court recess. Buck allegedly put his hands on or around Milton L. John’s neck, then dropped [...]

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A Vermont judge has issued an arrest warrant for the missing mother in a two-state, same-sex custody battle. Family Court Judge William Cohen ordered the arrest of Lisa Miller, who has refused to turn over her 7-year-old daughter Isabella pursuant to the judge’s custody order favoring Miller’s former partner, Janet Jenkins, reports the Rutland Herald [...]

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The Senate voted 23-17 today to drastically increase filing fees in general district and circuit courts to provide money for sheriffs and commonwealth’s attorneys. Proponents of Senate Bill 329, patroned by Sen. Richard H. Stuart, R-Westmoreland, contend there is no other to generate about $50 million and save the jobs of about 1,400 deputy sheriffs. [...]

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We learn today that the expensive-looking “Patek Philippe” watch surrendered last week by White House party crasher Tareq Salahi to cover a judgment for lawn care fees was just a fake. The Northern Virginia Daily reports the appraisal came back from a jewelers describing the watch as an imitation, worth about $100. Salahi was ordered [...]

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