Virginia

Justices to VA: What’s the Hurry to Execute?

Two U.S. Supreme Court justices had a message for the state of Virginia: Slow down the machinery of death. Justice John Paul Stevens issued a statement questioning Virginia’s rush to execution as the court declined to review a death-row inmate’s claim of ineffective counsel, the Washington Post reports. Justice Ruth…

Oct 2, 2007 11:43 AM CDT

Will Double Jeopardy Help QB?

The lawyer for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick says he will fight new state dogfighting charges filed against his client, who has already pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy for a dogfighting operation. Vick’s Washington, D.C., lawyer, William “Billy” Martin, said in a statement that he will examine…

Sep 26, 2007 12:07 PM CDT

Cert Granted in Drug Evidence Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether courts may consider cocaine evidence seized as a result of an illegal arrest for driving on a suspended license. Five federal appeals courts and four state supreme courts allow consideration of evidence seized in violation of state arrest laws. But the Virginia Supreme…

Sep 25, 2007 3:06 PM CDT

Lawyer ‘Totally Taken Aback’ by Missing Money

A former assistant for a Virginia lawyer faces federal accusations that she embezzled thousands of dollars from an estate he was handling. Shelia Mae Boone is accused of forging checks for more than $270,000 from estate funds, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. She is charged with two counts of bank…

Sep 21, 2007 11:38 AM CDT

VA High Court Plants Seed for More Tree Suits

Two neighbors whose relationship soured over a sweet gum tree have established new precedent in Virginia. The state supreme court ruled (PDF) on Friday that the owner of a tree deemed to be a nuisance “may be held responsible for harm caused to [adjoining property], and may also be required…

Sep 17, 2007 11:54 AM CDT

Another Atlanta Firm to Pay $145K

Another Atlanta-based law firm has jumped aboard the associate-salary-increase bandwagon. Kilpatrick Stockton has agreed to raise first-year pay to $145,000 as of Jan. 1, 2008, in accord with the latest wave of salary increases announced by other big Atlanta firms beginning last month, according to the Fulton County Daily Report.…

Sep 14, 2007 9:56 PM CDT

State Secrets Often Cited to Crush Suits

The Bush administration is apparently relying on the state secrets privilege in a motion seeking dismissal of a lawsuit claiming a Belgian banking cooperative gave customers’ records to the United States without a warrant. The Justice Department says in a July 25 motion that the suit should be dismissed to…

Aug 31, 2007 3:54 PM CDT

Panel Allots Blame for Va. Tech Massacre

A lack of communication, misunderstood medical privacy laws and inadequate mental health treatment options share the blame along with gunman Seung Hui Cho for a shooting spree in which he killed 32 fellow students and faculty at Virginia Tech earlier this year before killing himself Those were the conclusions of…

Aug 31, 2007 3:04 PM CDT

Va. Tech Gunman Wrote of Shooting

In a college English paper that reportedly wasn’t disclosed to some investigators and review panels looking into the Virginia Tech massacre, the gunman wrote of a fictional high school shooting that eerily resembles his subsequent crimes a year later. Although the paper by Seung Hui Cho has been provided to…

Aug 29, 2007 9:24 PM CDT

Law Hushed Va. Tech Gunman’s Disorder

Federal privacy and disability laws prohibited high school officials from revealing that the Virginia Tech gunman suffered from a social anxiety disorder. Fairfax County created a special education plan for Seung Hui Cho that allowed him to decline to participate in class discussions at his high school, the Washington Post…

Aug 27, 2007 4:44 PM CDT

Vick Pleads Guilty

Updated: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge in connection with a dogfighting operation known as Bad Newz Kennels. Sentencing was set for Dec. 10, Reuters reports. At a press conference after entering the plea, Vick apologized, saying he accepted responsibility for his actions…

Aug 27, 2007 3:37 PM CDT

Va. Bad Driver Revisions Proposed

GOP leaders plan to introduce legislation to revise Virginia’s controversial law that imposes fees as high as $3,000 on in-state drivers who commit reckless driving offenses. The revisions would limit the number of offenses covered by the law, and would apply the high fees to out-of-state as well as in-state…

Aug 23, 2007 2:51 PM CDT

White House Has Written Manual on Protesters

A written White House manual sets uniform policies to be followed concerning those who protest presidential events. Among other measures, it calls for tight control of event tickets and screening of attendees to check for hidden signs. If that doesn’t work, as the Washington Post characterizes the manual’s instructions, “Any…

Aug 22, 2007 11:33 PM CDT

Va. Tech Panels: More Security Needed

More is needed to help keep students safe on campus, according to reports by three internal Virginia Tech review committees that were released today. The committees were appointed after a student gunman killed 32 students and faculty during a several-hour on-campus massacre on April 16, to help the university prevent…

Aug 22, 2007 10:56 PM CDT

Vick Agrees to Plea Deal, Prison ‘Likely’

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick reportedly will accept a plea deal in a week that is “likely” to put him to prison. Sentencing, however, is not expected to take place for months. According to one of his attorneys, Lawrence Woodward, the football superstar agreed to plead guilty to one charge…

Aug 20, 2007 6:55 PM CDT