Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell announced yesterday that the second annual Legal Food Frenzy will be held March 31- April 11.
The goal this year is a million pounds of food for the state’s foodbanks from Virginia law firms, a substantial increase over last year’s 679,000 pounds. The young lawyers division of the Virginia Bar Association is coordinating with the effort, with Katja H. Hill of LeClair Ryan and Christopher Gill of Christian Barton as co-chairs.
A press release from McDonnell’s office has the details about how firms can sign on for the event.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Nichol out at W&M
The Board of Visitors at the College of William and Mary announced in a statement this morning that President Gene Nichol had resigned following the board's decision not to renew his contract.
Nichol also released a statement, noting that he will return to the faculty of the William and Mary law school.
Nichol's 16-month tenure was marked by a number of controversies, including a dust-up over the presence of a cross in the school's historic Wren Chapel. This past week, several members of the board were called to appear before the General Assembly and to hear some members' displeasure with the recent Sex Workers' Art Show held on campus.
The board said that Dean W. Taylor Reveley of the law school will serve as interim president of the College while a search for a new leader begins.
Nichol also released a statement, noting that he will return to the faculty of the William and Mary law school.
Nichol's 16-month tenure was marked by a number of controversies, including a dust-up over the presence of a cross in the school's historic Wren Chapel. This past week, several members of the board were called to appear before the General Assembly and to hear some members' displeasure with the recent Sex Workers' Art Show held on campus.
The board said that Dean W. Taylor Reveley of the law school will serve as interim president of the College while a search for a new leader begins.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Kelley will leave bench
Judge Walter D. Kelley Jr. will leave the federal district bench less than four years after he was appointed to the court.
In a letter to President Bush today, Kelley said May 16 will be his last day as a judge. “I have reluctantly concluded that my professional interests and the needs of my family are best met in the private sector. I therefore have accepted a partnership in the international law firm of Jones Day, resident in its Washington, D.C. office.”
The letter followed calls from Virginia Lawyers Weekly and other reporters about comments he made last week at a hearing in a patent case in Norfolk. Kelley told the attorneys before him that he has been offered a partnership in the Washington office of Jones Day and might well be leaving the bench shortly. The remarks were in the context of a case scheduled for trial in April, and he mentioned that it might be the last case he will preside over.
Asked earlier today about the remarks, Kelley acknowledged that he had made them but would not elaborate on them. He said he had not written to the White House announcing his resignation and added that any comment before he does so would be premature. Within a few hours of that response, he e-mailed a copy of the correspondence to the White House.
A native of Norfolk and a graduate of Washington and Lee University and its law school, Kelley was nominated in October 2003 to the seat vacated by Judge Henry C. Morgan. The Senate confirmed him in June 2004, and he received his commission two months later.
At the time, he was a partner in the Norfolk office of Troutman Sanders LLP. He specialized in commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on intellectual property and antitrust cases.
In his letter to the President, Kelley said, “Serving the citizens of this country as a United States District Judge has been the greatest honor of my professional career. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
However, as a judge, he earned a fraction of his income as a litigator, and he has presided over dockets heavy on drug and firearm cases with relatively little in the way of the business disputes he handled as an attorney. His assistant said he would not say anything today beyond what was in the letter.
In a letter to President Bush today, Kelley said May 16 will be his last day as a judge. “I have reluctantly concluded that my professional interests and the needs of my family are best met in the private sector. I therefore have accepted a partnership in the international law firm of Jones Day, resident in its Washington, D.C. office.”
The letter followed calls from Virginia Lawyers Weekly and other reporters about comments he made last week at a hearing in a patent case in Norfolk. Kelley told the attorneys before him that he has been offered a partnership in the Washington office of Jones Day and might well be leaving the bench shortly. The remarks were in the context of a case scheduled for trial in April, and he mentioned that it might be the last case he will preside over.
Asked earlier today about the remarks, Kelley acknowledged that he had made them but would not elaborate on them. He said he had not written to the White House announcing his resignation and added that any comment before he does so would be premature. Within a few hours of that response, he e-mailed a copy of the correspondence to the White House.
A native of Norfolk and a graduate of Washington and Lee University and its law school, Kelley was nominated in October 2003 to the seat vacated by Judge Henry C. Morgan. The Senate confirmed him in June 2004, and he received his commission two months later.
At the time, he was a partner in the Norfolk office of Troutman Sanders LLP. He specialized in commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on intellectual property and antitrust cases.
In his letter to the President, Kelley said, “Serving the citizens of this country as a United States District Judge has been the greatest honor of my professional career. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
However, as a judge, he earned a fraction of his income as a litigator, and he has presided over dockets heavy on drug and firearm cases with relatively little in the way of the business disputes he handled as an attorney. His assistant said he would not say anything today beyond what was in the letter.
4th Circuit hops e-filing bandwagon
Effective April Fool’s Day, lawyers can start electronic filing of documents in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Richmond-based appellate court has served notice of its proposed adoption of Administrative Order 08-01 for a case management/electronic filing system. ECF systems already are in place in federal district and bankruptcy courts in Virginia.
The e-filing system is available for voluntary participation April 1, with electronic filing by counsel becoming mandatory on June 1, 2008, subject to certain exceptions. Exemptions from mandatory e-filing include case-initiating documents such as petitions for review and mandamus, appendices, formal briefs and Criminal Justice Act vouchers.
According to the court, an attorney may move for an exemption from e-filing for good cause shown. Lawyers and litigants are responsible for removing personal data identifiers and other sensitive information from public documents prior to filing.
The proposed order takes effect April 1, subject to amendment in light of comments received. Comments must be submitted by March 14.
The Richmond-based appellate court has served notice of its proposed adoption of Administrative Order 08-01 for a case management/electronic filing system. ECF systems already are in place in federal district and bankruptcy courts in Virginia.
The e-filing system is available for voluntary participation April 1, with electronic filing by counsel becoming mandatory on June 1, 2008, subject to certain exceptions. Exemptions from mandatory e-filing include case-initiating documents such as petitions for review and mandamus, appendices, formal briefs and Criminal Justice Act vouchers.
According to the court, an attorney may move for an exemption from e-filing for good cause shown. Lawyers and litigants are responsible for removing personal data identifiers and other sensitive information from public documents prior to filing.
The proposed order takes effect April 1, subject to amendment in light of comments received. Comments must be submitted by March 14.
Kelley ponders leaving bench
Walter D. Kelley Jr. is thinking about leaving the federal district bench less than four years after he was appointed to the court.
At a hearing in a patent case last week in Norfolk, Kelley told the attorneys before him that he has been offered a partnership in the Washington office of Jones Day. The remarks were in the context of a case scheduled for trial in April, and he mentioned that it might be the last case he presides over.
Asked today about the remarks, Kelley acknowledged that he had made them but would not elaborate on them. He said he has not written to the White House announcing his resignation and added that any comment before he does so would be premature.
A native of Norfolk and a graduate of Washington and Lee University and its law school, Kelley was nominated in October 2003 to the seat vacated by Judge Henry C. Morgan. The Senate confirmed him in June 2004, and he received his commission two months later.
At the time, he was a partner in the Norfolk office of Troutman Sanders LLP. He specialized in commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on intellectual property and antitrust cases.
As a judge, he has presided over dockets heavy on drug and firearm cases with relatively little in the way of the business disputes he handled as an attorney.
At a hearing in a patent case last week in Norfolk, Kelley told the attorneys before him that he has been offered a partnership in the Washington office of Jones Day. The remarks were in the context of a case scheduled for trial in April, and he mentioned that it might be the last case he presides over.
Asked today about the remarks, Kelley acknowledged that he had made them but would not elaborate on them. He said he has not written to the White House announcing his resignation and added that any comment before he does so would be premature.
A native of Norfolk and a graduate of Washington and Lee University and its law school, Kelley was nominated in October 2003 to the seat vacated by Judge Henry C. Morgan. The Senate confirmed him in June 2004, and he received his commission two months later.
At the time, he was a partner in the Norfolk office of Troutman Sanders LLP. He specialized in commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on intellectual property and antitrust cases.
As a judge, he has presided over dockets heavy on drug and firearm cases with relatively little in the way of the business disputes he handled as an attorney.
Policy limits bill clears committee
Plaintiffs’ attorneys would be able to get the policy limits of a potential defendant without filing suit under House Bill 172, which cleared the House Courts of Justice Committee Friday on a 19-3 vote.
Steven W. Pearson, a lobbyist for the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, told the panel that the measure “will reduce unnecessary lawsuits” because plaintiffs’ attorneys will be able to make demands appropriate to the level of coverage before filing suit.
The bill had been amended to the satisfaction of insurers, the bill’s sponsor, Del. Terry G. Kilgore, R-Scott, told the committee. However, Robert N. Bradshaw Jr., a lobbyist for the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, opposed the bill. He said agents and insurers have told policyholders that they consider the information private and proprietary. Now, they will have to tell those policyholders, “We keep it private unless a lawyer wants to sue you,” Bradshaw said.
Steven W. Pearson, a lobbyist for the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, told the panel that the measure “will reduce unnecessary lawsuits” because plaintiffs’ attorneys will be able to make demands appropriate to the level of coverage before filing suit.
The bill had been amended to the satisfaction of insurers, the bill’s sponsor, Del. Terry G. Kilgore, R-Scott, told the committee. However, Robert N. Bradshaw Jr., a lobbyist for the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, opposed the bill. He said agents and insurers have told policyholders that they consider the information private and proprietary. Now, they will have to tell those policyholders, “We keep it private unless a lawyer wants to sue you,” Bradshaw said.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Goodwyn, Millette elected
Supreme Court Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn and Court of Appeals Judge LeRoy F. Millette Jr. won’t have a break in service after all.
Their appointments by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine would have expired tonight in the absence of action by the General Assembly, and they became the pawns in an assertion of institutional clout by Republicans in the House of Delegates described in a post on Monday and in more detail today by Jeff E. Schapiro in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Just how much horse trading went on wasn’t clear immediately, but Goodwyn and Millette were elected this afternoon by a unanimous vote in both houses.
It all seems a little silly, especially when the Republicans acknowledged all along that Goodwyn and Millette were excellent choices for their respective positions.
Their appointments by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine would have expired tonight in the absence of action by the General Assembly, and they became the pawns in an assertion of institutional clout by Republicans in the House of Delegates described in a post on Monday and in more detail today by Jeff E. Schapiro in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Just how much horse trading went on wasn’t clear immediately, but Goodwyn and Millette were elected this afternoon by a unanimous vote in both houses.
It all seems a little silly, especially when the Republicans acknowledged all along that Goodwyn and Millette were excellent choices for their respective positions.
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