The circuit court did not err in terminating the parental rights of a father of six based on his conviction for involuntary manslaughter six years earlier. The offense arose from the death of his infant daughter when he left her ...

Tagged with: Criminal Family Law Judge William G. Petty Parental Rights Virginia Court of Appeals

A capital murder defendant who sought forensic testing of certain evidence was entitled to present his argument to the court ex parte under Code § 9.1-1104. But the statute does not authorize ex parte status for the resulting order as ...

Tagged with: Criminal Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy I. Bellows Virginia Circuit Courts

Timely notice of the required appearance date is not an element of felony failure-to-appear. In this case, notice could be inferred from the defendant’s presence in court (with counsel) when the continuance date was announced and by his counsel’s appearance ...

Tagged with: Criminal Evidence Judge Mary B. Malveaux Virginia Court of Appeals

Despite informed consent from both clients, a defendant’s attorney was disqualified from representing her on a drug charge because he had previously represented a material witness for the government. Background In a prior criminal drug prosecution, Defendant Lauren Hoback’s defense ...

Tagged with: Attorneys Criminal Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon U.S. District Court - Western District

Evidence was sufficient to convict a former Norfolk city councilman who had been involved in numerous quid pro quo relationships with local developers for many years. The district court also did not err in declining to grant a new trial. ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Judge Albert Diaz

An Amazon warehouse employee who beat up a coworker based on the victim’s sexual orientation couldn’t be convicted of a federal hate crime, though the jury delivered a guilty verdict. The act didn’t affect interstate commerce and, thus, was outside ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Criminal Judge John A. Gibney Jr. U.S. District Court - Eastern District

In arguing that the Commonwealth struck black jurors based on their race, defense counsel did not fully put the issue of pretext before the trial court. Where the trial court did have the opportunity to consider pretext, its observation of ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Randolph A. Beales Virginia Court of Appeals

In a habeas challenge brought by a defendant on death row for the murder of a Norfolk law enforcement officer, an evidentiary hearing is necessary to determine whether juror bias tainted the conviction. Despite a straightforward inquiry by trial counsel, ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Criminal Judge Stephanie Dawn Thacker

A man who initiated a gun fight with a law enforcement officer, apparently while under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, unsuccessfully challenged the trial court’s evidentiary rulings and accepted jury instructions. Background David Frizzell appeals his convictions for attempted ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Unpublished Opinion Virginia Court of Appeals

When the search of a driver who’d appeared nervous and fidgety produced a digital scale with apparent cocaine residue on it, the circumstances supported probable cause for officers to search his vehicle, where they found drugs and a handgun. Background ...

Tagged with: Constitutional Criminal Justice Elizabeth A. McClanahan Search & Seizure Supreme Court of Virginia