Virginia

Presumed vindictiveness of increased sentence imposed by federal judge requires do-over, 4th Circuit says

A federal judge who increased a sentence of probation by six years after a drug defendant’s successful sentencing appeal will have to try again, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Nov 26, 2024 9:19 AM CST

Supreme Court allows Virginia effort to strike possible noncitizen voters

A divided Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday for Virginia officials to remove about 1,600 voters from the state’s registration rolls less than one week before the presidential election.

Oct 30, 2024 10:40 AM CDT

4th Circuit strikes down effort to purge suspected noncitizen voters

A federal appeals court on Sunday upheld the ruling of a Virginia judge who struck down an effort from state officials to automatically cancel voter registrations of suspected noncitizens, pointing to a federal law that prohibits states from purging voters 90 days before a presidential election.

Oct 28, 2024 3:15 PM CDT

Lawyer accused of storing 1,000 pounds of marijuana at law office enters guilty plea

A Virginia lawyer has been temporarily suspended after pleading guilty for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of marijuana.

Oct 4, 2024 9:14 AM CDT

Lawyer thought he was working with feds when he lost retirement savings to scammers

A 76-year-old retired lawyer in Arlington, Virginia, lost about $740,000 in retirement savings to sophisticated scammers who led him to think that he was helping the federal government catch thieves trying to gain access to his retirement and bank accounts.

Jul 30, 2024 11:54 AM CDT

Alito’s beach house displayed ‘Appeal to Heaven’ flag, a ‘provocative symbol,’ report says

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s beach house in New Jersey displayed an “Appeal to Heaven” flag, another “provocative symbol,” the New York Times reports.

May 23, 2024 9:28 AM CDT

Lowered bar pass cut scores mean better bar pass rates in 4 states

Of the five states that lowered the minimum score required for passing the bar last year, four of them had increases in their February 2024 bar passage rates, according to the latest data compiled by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

May 7, 2024 10:23 AM CDT

Pro-Palestinian groups are Hamas propagandists, BigLaw firm’s suit alleges; is First Amendment an issue?

Updated: A May 1 lawsuit alleges that two pro-Palestinian groups are Hamas propagandists that are involved in campus protests in an effort to justify violence against Israel and Zionists.

May 6, 2024 2:06 PM CDT

Catholic student sues a Virginia school board over transgender protections

A Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools student is suing the school board, sayings its policy aimed at protecting the rights of transgender students violate the rights of others and violates the state constitution.

Mar 7, 2024 12:15 PM CST

Former FDIC lawyer who once worked in BigLaw pleads guilty in child-exploitation case

A lawyer who worked in the general counsel’s office at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection with his participation in two online groups that exploited prepubescent girls.

Jan 25, 2024 1:21 PM CST

George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School hit with noncompliance notice

The George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School has received a public notice of being out of compliance with ABA accreditation standards.

Dec 7, 2023 1:48 PM CST

BigLaw firm’s ‘misrepresentations and passive obstreperousness’ prevented witness testimony, judge says

A federal judge in Virginia has held lawyers at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in civil contempt while ordering its former client to pay enhanced damages for “abhorrent litigation conduct.”

Oct 24, 2023 2:07 PM CDT

25 federal district courts have always had white judges

Twenty-five out of 94 federal district courts have never had a judge of color, according to a Bloomberg Law analysis.

Sep 5, 2023 12:36 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: SCOTUS asked to hear high school admissions case over race; utility company faces suit after Hawaii wildfires

Supreme Court could hear high school admissions case involving race The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday was asked to hear a Virginia high school admissions case over race. The Coalition for TJ, a group of parents and students, filed the petition for writ of certiorari in response to the Fairfax…

Aug 25, 2023 2:09 PM CDT

What state has the best work-life balance? New report explores

Aspiring lawyers will find the best work-life balance in these top three states, according to a new report from presettlement loan company Uplift Legal Funding.

Aug 23, 2023 9:35 AM CDT