The Supreme Court of Virgnia has adopted proposed criminal discovery rule changes recommended in December by a Virginia State Bar task force. Only minor changes were made in the task force recommendation, according to attorneys who reviewed the court’s order. ...

Tagged with: Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons Judge Robert J. Humphreys Supreme Court of Virginia News

As the Supreme Court of Virginia considers ethical guidance regarding online attorney-client matching services, the leading such business announced last month it was closing its doors. Avvo Legal Services, a key player in the web legal marketplace, said it decided ...

Tagged with: Avvo Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons Supreme Court of Virginia

VIRGINIA BEACH — Virginia’s appellate courts will launch pilot mediation projects for civil cases next year. A study committee recommended in April that the courts give appellate mediation a try. The Supreme Court of Virginia gave the green light in ...

Tagged with: Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons Virginia State Bar

Anticipated full funding of all authorized judgeships is good news, but Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons says other offices at Virginia courthouses remain shorthanded. Lemons provided a supplement to the annual State of the Judiciary address in ...

Tagged with: Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons

An affidavit alleging open-meeting violations by a county board of supervisors was sufficient to support a FOIA petition when the affiant swore to her belief in matters presented on information. Background Appellant Marian Bragg alleges that the Rappahannock County Board ...

Tagged with: Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons Civil Rights FOIA Public Records Supreme Court of Virginia

ROANOKE – Budget limitations are putting the squeeze on Virginia courts, with shortages of both judges and the clerk staffers that support them. The court systems’ top executive says administrators are working hard to make ends meet, even while the ...

Tagged with: Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons General Assembly

Judges concerned about whether guardians ad litem for children are meeting expectations for their work will have a new tool to check. One judicial panel this month approved a form for a lawyer to disclose actions taken as an appointed ...

Tagged with: Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons Judge Frank W. Somerville

High-demand customers can purchase renewable energy from competitive service providers under a statutory framework for “individual retail customers.” Background This appeal presents the question whether certain large electricity consumers can purchase electricity from any licensed supplier of energy in the ...

Tagged with: Administrative Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons Environmental Regulated Industries Supreme Court of Virginia Utilities

The Departmet was justified in terminating an agent’s employment after he searched the business office of a license applicant without her consent or a warrant. Background Linda K. Swim applied to Appellee Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for an ...

Tagged with: Administrative Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons Constitutional Employment Search & Seizure Supreme Court of Virginia

The court reversed an award of attorneys’ fees, finding that the fraud claim on which they were based arose solely from obligations under the parties’ agreement, the court held. JB&A was a government contractor that provided services to U.S. intelligence ...

Tagged with: Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons Contract Supreme Court of Virginia