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Legislature elects judges to Virginia’s lower courts
In addition to electing eight new judges to the expanded Court of Appeals, the General Assembly elected six new judges to Virginia’s lower courts. Those judges are: Curtis M. Hairston Jr., Chesterfield General District Court R. Lucas Hobbs, Washington General District Court Claire G. Cardwell, Richmond Circuit Court Jayne A. Pemberton, Chesterfield Circuit Court Tasha […]
Judge Petty to retire from Virginia Court of Appeals
Virginia Court of Appeals Judge William G. Petty will retire later this year, which opened the eighth vacancy on the court that the General Assembly filled on Aug. 10. Petty’s retirement will be effective in November, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Petty, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 73 next year, has served […]
New rules for judges: High court proposes revisions to judicial canons
The Supreme Court of Virginia is floating proposed new Canons of Judicial Conduct for public input and comment. Under the proposal, which streamlines the current canons, a judge may: Participate in social media, within restraint. Participate in community activities, to prevent the judge from being isolated from the community. Vote in all elections, including primaries. […]
Mims to leave high court next year
Supreme Court Justice William C. Mims has notified the governor and legislative leaders that he will not seek reelection to the court next year when his term comes to an end on March 31. By letter this morning, the justice said, “Serving the people of the Commonwealth for a 12-year term on the Court, and […]
VSB rates 45 for 7 appeals court seats
A Virginia State Bar committee has reported recommendations to the General Assembly for 45 candidates for seven vacancies on the Virginia Court of Appeals. The VSB’s Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee, or JCEC, rated candidates as “qualified” or “highly qualified” for the court. The candidates were recommended based on votes taken across several interview dates, including […]
Two vacancies pending in Virginia’s federal courts
A pair of U.S. District Court judges are taking senior status later this year, creating additional Virginia federal judgeships to be filled by President Joe Biden. Judge James P. Jones of the Western District of Virginia and Judge John A. Gibney Jr. of the Eastern District of Virginia both have announced that they are taking […]
Biden taps Heytens for 4th Circuit
President Joe Biden has nominated Virginia Solicitor General Toby J. Heytens to a seat on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Upon confirmation, Heytens would fill the seat of Judge Barbara Milano Keenan, who will take senior status in August. Biden also made nominations June 30 to two open district judgeships in Virginia’s Eastern […]
Special powers: Lawyer-legislators pick judges, can stop cases with privilege
Virginia lawyers who serve in the General Assembly enjoy outsized powers and privileges in their interactions with the judges who rule on their cases. But any regulation would be impractical, many of them say. In Virginia, lawyer-legislators can have a major role in picking the judges who will decide their cases, since majority party caucuses […]
Roanokers seek gender diversity on bench
Fifty-two Roanoke-area lawyers have asked the Senate Judiciary Committee for more women candidates to be appointed to circuit and general district judgeships in their circuit. In a letter to the committee sent May 14, the group noted that only one woman, Judge Diane McQ. Strickland, ever has been named to the 23rd Circuit Court, and […]
Interviews planned for appeals court candidates
Volunteer lawyers are gearing up to evaluate 46 candidates identified by legislators as new potential contenders for seven open seats on the soon-to-be expanded Court of Appeals of Virginia. The process will take a few months longer than anticipated. General Assembly leaders are hoping to get recommendations from various bar organizations by July 30. The […]
Assembly’s first round of judicial elections
The following is a list of judges and others elected by the two chambers of the General Assembly on Jan. 26. Most are sitting judges re-elected to new terms. Another round of judicial elections is expected later in the session, which is scheduled to adjourn Feb. 11. Circuit Court Judges Brenda C. Spry, 3rd Judicial […]
Assembly gives court power to delay judgments
After a decade of nuanced judicial refinements to the standard for deferring dispositions for criminal defendants, the General Assembly has agreed to give judges nearly unfettered discretion to delay criminal judgments for later consideration. The reform given final approval Oct. 7 is a “sea change” in the practice of criminal law, according to one of […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Plaintiff injured in crash with oncoming vehicle — $235,000 settlement
- Driver killed in rear-end collision with tractor-trailer — $1.5M settlement
- Man died from pancreatic cancer after delayed response — $1.8M settlement
- Worker fell off roof, rendering him a paraplegic — $1.25M settlement
- Driver sustained permanent hearing loss after traffic collision — $240,000 settlement
- Plaintiff suffered concussion in rear-end collision — $81,000 verdict
- Builder misrepresented home status to buyers — $675,000 verdict
- Low potassium led to cardiac arrest, death of patient — $1M settlement
- Excessive propofol caused death in dialysis patient — $850,000 settlement
- Pedestrian struck in crosswalk in hit-and-run incident — $300,000 settlement
- Navy veteran killed in collision with box truck — $1.85M arbitration award
- Motorcyclist ejected from bike in collision with SUV — $1.5M settlement
Opinion Digests
- Company owner dodges breach of contract suit
- Employee’s own allegations doom minimum wage claim
- Federal government defeats former employee’s claims
- Principal wasn’t entitled to exclusively remote work
- USPTO properly redacted info in responsive documents
- Untimely lawsuit allowed to proceed
- Engineering consultant dismissed from suit
- Rule 60 motion was filed too late
- Nonprofit directors immune from ex-employees’ claims
- City, employees immune from whistleblower claims
- Experts excluded in condemnation damages suit
- Judgment entered against company for horse’s death
