Virginia

DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel says its prior opinion on ERA doesn’t bar Congress from acting

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel says its prior opinion on the Equal Rights Amendment doesn’t bar Congress from taking further action on ratification because the issue would ultimately be decided by the courts.

Jan 27, 2022 9:18 AM CST

Local police used fake DNA reports in bid to win confessions, state attorney general says

Police in Virginia Beach, Virginia, used fake DNA reports in an effort to get confessions, cooperation or convictions, according to outgoing Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.

Jan 18, 2022 9:22 AM CST

Suspension upheld for lawyer accused of concealing inventories of shipwreck gold

A lawyer accused of failing to disclose his clients' inventories of shipwreck gold will be suspended for four years in Virginia as a result of a decision by that state’s supreme court.

Jan 12, 2022 8:42 AM CST

Federal judge says it’s ‘almost insane’ to assert wife’s stock holdings affected his decisions

Updated: A federal judge in Virginia said in a recusal hearing last week that it was “almost insane” to assert that his wife’s $22,000 holding in Amazon.com Inc. stock affected his decisions in a case involving the company.

Jan 10, 2022 11:16 AM CST

Cybersquatters are using Debevoise’s name to steal personal information, suit alleges

Updated: Debevoise & Plimpton has claimed in a lawsuit that cybersquatters are using its name in an attempt to profit from ads and seek sensitive information in phishing schemes.

Dec 15, 2021 11:55 AM CST

White supremacists found liable for civil conspiracy to commit violence at ‘Unite the Right’ rally

Jurors found organizers of the violent 2017 “Unite the Right” rally liable under Virginia law Tuesday for a civil conspiracy to commit violence and intimidation.

Nov 23, 2021 4:04 PM CST

Ex-LeClairRyan general counsel gets prison time, while firm insurer agrees to pay $10M to bankruptcy trustee

The former general counsel of the defunct law firm LeClairRyan was sentenced to 44 months in prison in Richmond, Virginia, on Monday for lying to the U.S. Trustee Program while trying to thwart an investigation into his embezzlement of more than $4 million.

Nov 23, 2021 10:02 AM CST

Senate confirms first openly LGBTQ woman to a federal appeals court

The U.S. Senate confirmed Vermont Supreme Court Justice Beth Robinson to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New York on Monday, making her the first openly LGBTQ woman to serve on a federal appeals court.

Nov 2, 2021 11:31 AM CDT

Lawyer is disbarred after accusations of ‘pervasive incivility’ and ‘reckless indifference to the law’

A lawyer has been disbarred in Maryland following the same disposition in Virginia for rejecting settlement offers without a client’s consent and demonstrating “pervasive incivility.”

Oct 27, 2021 9:33 AM CDT

Federal judge ends clash with defense lawyer by walking out of courtroom during his argument

A lawyer has filed a motion that objects to a federal judge’s decision to leave the bench during a hearing on suppression of evidence against his client.

Sep 28, 2021 9:24 AM CDT

Woman testifying against domestic violence suspect jailed after admitting to pot use that morning

A woman who testified against the man she accused of domestic violence spent two days in a Virginia jail this month after the judge asked if she was on drugs and she admitted smoking marijuana that morning. Lawyers for the woman, Katie Orndoff, have filed a motion to vacate the…

Sep 20, 2021 10:58 AM CDT

State supreme court’s chief justice declares justice system emergency to increase pro bono representation

The Virginia Supreme Court’s chief justice has issued an emergency order to increase the pool of lawyers who can represent indigent tenants who are facing eviction and others in need of free legal help.

Aug 23, 2021 2:30 PM CDT

Biden’s new picks for solicitor general and Manhattan US attorney once clerked for AG Garland

President Joe Biden’s new nominees for U.S. solicitor general and for U.S. attorney in Manhattan, New York City, both clerked for U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland when he was a federal appeals judge, and both clerked for U.S. Supreme Court justices.

Aug 12, 2021 9:05 AM CDT

GOP-linked group targets 3 progressive Virginia prosecutors deemed soft on crime

A new group called Virginians for Safe Communities is targeting three progressive prosecutors in a recall effort amid a Republican push to capitalize on voter concerns about rising gun violence.

Aug 6, 2021 9:32 AM CDT

Lawyer’s suit claims raid was retaliation for successful defense; city sees allegations as baseless

The city of Roanoke, Virginia, is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a lawyer who claims that police raided her home in retaliation for successfully defending her stepson on murder charges.

Jul 28, 2021 9:36 AM CDT