A man with a clean record after his 1989 drug conviction won reinstatement of his right to purchase, possess and carry firearms, as the court found he satisfied the “good cause shown” standard by demonstrating the risk that caused him ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge David Bernhard Virginia Circuit Courts

The “Important Opinions” that appear each week on the front page of Virginia Lawyers Weekly are those chosen by our editors as the most likely to impact law practice or a given subject area of law. Below is a listing, ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Administrative Banking Bankruptcy Civil Procedure Civil Rights Commercial Constitutional Consumer Protection Contract Corporate Criminal Domestic Relations Employment Evidence Federal Jurisdiction First Amendment Government Immigration Intellectual Property Personal Injury Real Property Search & Seizure Supreme Court of Virginia Traffic U.S. District Court - Eastern District U.S. District Court - Western District Virginia Circuit Courts Virginia Court of Appeals Wills & Trusts

A gag order imposed by the district court overseeing suits against the owners of hog farms breached basic First Amendment principles. Background Hundreds of plaintiffs have alleged that nearby hog farms associated with Murphy-Brown LLC are a private nuisance. Plaintiffs ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Constitutional Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III

Five abortion providers challenging Virginia’s regulatory framework as overly burdensome may proceed with their claims. Background This is an action filed by five Virginia healthcare providers’ who offer abortion care or services seeking declaratory and injunctive relief from what they ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Judge Henry E. Hudson U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority defeated a challenge to its use of toll funds for metro services to Dulles airport. Background Appellants here have raised a variety of constitutional and statutory challenges to Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority’s ability to use ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Constitutional Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III

The court granted a Republican Committee’s motion to vacate the stay of an injunction that had been guided by the public interest in mitigating confusion about the candidate selection process for the 2018 elections. Background This matter is before the ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Judge Michael F. Urbanski U.S. District Court - Western District

As the record supported a prisoner’s assertion that his habeas corpus petition was timely filed, the Supreme Court found the circuit court abused its discretion in dismissing the petition. Background On April 11, 2016, Monte Walton filed a petition for ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Supreme Court of Virginia

Prison officials did not violate an inmate’s rights by refusing to serve him a special diet in the month of December. Background Richard Richardson Jr. arrived at Red Onion State Prison in June of 2013. Two years later, he requested ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Judge James P. Jones U.S. District Court - Western District

A group that opposes the use of dogs in medical experiments alleged facts that support its claims the Greater Richmond Transit Authority violated its First and Fourteenth rights by rejecting its advertisements. Background Plaintiff White Coat describes itself as a ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Judge M. Hannah Lauck U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Because petitioner failed to obtain the Fourth Circuit’s authorization to file a successive  habeas petition as required under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the court lacks jurisdiction and the claim must be dismissed. Background Plaintiff has ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Judge Lawrence R. Leonard U.S. District Court - Eastern District