Law Commons^™

A Call For Justice: Virginia's Need For Criminal Discovery Reform, Douglas A. Ramseur

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

In order for the promise of a strong and reliable criminal justice system to work properly in Virginia, there must be strong and prepared advocates on both sides of the process. The current process of discovery for criminal cases in Virginia fosters a culture of secrecy and unpreparedness that should not be tolerated in a system that has such power over the lives of every person in this state. It is far past the time for Virginia to move forward on criminal discovery reform. The current rules for criminal discovery in Virginia were first adopted in 1972. The rules do …

Forfeiting Federalism: The Faustian Pact With Big Tobacco, Ryan D. Dreveskracht

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

This article discusses the effects of the largest legal settlement in United States history: the so-called Master Settlement Agreement , or "MSA." Part I discusses the settlement generally, and its intended effect on the U.S. tobacco market. Parts II through IV discuss the unintended consequences of the settlement.' Part II considers how states got into their current disarray, and how a perceived state windfall of billions of dollars ended up putting states on what by all accounts now appears to be very real risk of insolvency. Part III examines how the major tobacco companies are using the states' dire financial …

Protecting The Digital Afterlife: Virginia's Privacy Expectation Afterlife And Choices Act, The Honorable Mark Obesnshain, The Honorable Jay Leftwich

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

This article examines Virginia’s Privacy Expectation Afterlife and Choices Act. Part I surveys federal legislation and proposed uniform legislation that attempts to protect digital assets and records. Part II examines opposition to proposed legislation and another proposed law: the Privacy Expectation Afterlife and Choices Act. Part III details Virginia’s final version of the Privacy Expectation Afterlife and Choices Act. Part V concludes the Article.

Recent Children's Policy And Legislative Developments In Virginia: A Brief History, A Bright Future, The Honorable Christopher K. Peace, Amy L. Woolard

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

In this piece, we will outline the structural and policy developments implemented in Virginia in recent years that set the stage for a sea change in children’s services in Virginia.

Let's Get Ethical, A Look At The New Ethics Reform In The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Davis C. Rennolds

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

In April of 2015, the Virginia General Assembly returned to Richmond for its annual veto session, with the main focus on putting the finishing touches on ethics reform.1 After lengthy debate and a number of amendments, the omnibus ethics bill passed the House and the Senate unanimously. House and Senate Members from both political parties touted the accomplishment as a significant step forward, as did Governor McAuliffe who called the legislation a “victory for transparency and accountability.”

This Article will argue the cases of Delegate Phil Hamilton and former Governor Bob McDonnell provide a framework for analyzing whether the new …

Testamentary Capacity Litigation In Virginia, F. Philip Manns Jr.

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

In Rust v. Reid, a 1918 case involving testamentary capacity, the Supreme Court of Virginia wrote the "cases upon this subject are almost without number, and they are not to be reconciled," but Rust referred to "all of the decisions of this court on the subject of competency of jurors," which also had been at issue in the case. However, in its decision in Rust, the Court easily could have leveled the same self-criticism about its cases deciding (1) which party bears the burden of proof in testamentary capacity litigation; (2) whether a presumption of testamentary capacity exists; and (3) …

Who Is Best Suited To Combat Sexual Violence On College Campuses?: An Analysis Of H.B. 1785, Susana Bass

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

Virginia House Bill 1785, requiring campus police to notify the Commonwealth’s Attorney of any victim-initiated sexual assault investigations, is a positive step forward in helping to combat sexual assault on Virginia college campuses. Under this legislation, victims of sexual assault are much more likely to receive the protection and justice they deserve.

Part II of this comment outlines current federal law that intends to ad- dress sexual assault on college campus and whether these laws have been effective in preventing sexual assault. Part III details Virginia House Bill 1785 introduced in the 2015 Virginia General Assembly Session to address sexual …

What Role For Civility?, Bob Gibson

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

Every year recently, Virginians bemoan a loss of civility in a political arena that seems more callous, combative and partisan, less productive and turning churlish. Many view politics in Washington as hopelessly lost into gridlock and cycles of inaction, inattention to serious issues and retribution. Virginians hope that politics at the state level has not sunk as far.

What has happened to trust, civility, and respect in politics as it relates to this past General Assembly session?

Veteran's Law Symposium: Keynote Address Delivered November 8, 2013, Tim Kaine

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

d it is good to be back here Friday to talk to this Veterans Law Symposium. The initial symposium on veterans law here at the law school and what an appropriate thing to do on an appropriate weekend as we get ready to celebrate Veteran's Day and I was honored to be asked to come and offer some thoughts. I want to talk about, just sort of current issues we are really grappling with, that are legal issues, in Congress, that might affect the practice that you would hope to do, that certainly affect the lives of our veterans and …

Renewed Commitment: The Latest Chapter In Reforming Virginia's Mental Health System, The Honorable Jennifer L. Mcclellan

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

In the wake of the highly publicized Virginia Tech tragedy, the 2008 General Assembly Session adopted mental health reforms that focused on the provision of emergency services during the detention and commitment process, and an increase in funding to implement these reforms and strengthen emergency services. Despite the reforms, the issue of inadequate capacity to meet the increasing demand for mental health services remains in a number of key areas, including emergency services and a decline in in-patient psychiatric bed capacity while population growth continues.

The Judiciary In Virginia: Changes And Challenges In Virginia: One Trial Judge's Perspective, Thoma D. Horne Retired Judge

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

With the convening of the 2014 Virginia General Assembly, members of the Senate and House received the anticipated 2013 Judicial Workload Assessment Report-a weighted case load study produced by the National Center for State Courts and commissioned by the legislature during its 2012 session. The purpose of the study was to help guide both the future selection of judges and the allocation of the political boundaries to be served by those judges. The results of the weighted caseload study as contained in the 2013 Report would validate many of those concerns expressed earlier by the 2011 Judicial Boundary Realignment Committee …

Screening The Poor: The Legality Of Drug Testing For Welfare Benefits, Jacquelyn Bolen

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

On March 8, 2014, at the conclusion of the 2014 Virginia General Assembly regular session, Virginia joined at least 17 other states that, in this year alone, have introduced proposals to screen or test applicants for illegal substances prior to obtaining public assistance. Following the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which permitted states to conduct drug testing as part of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, states began proposing drug screenings for applicants of public welfare benefits. Despite a 2003 Sixth Circuit decision holding that suspicionless drug testing is unconstitutional, in …

An Analysis Of The Political And Legal Debates Concerning Medicaid Expansion In Virginia, Rick Mayes Ph.D, Benjamin Paul

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

The Supreme Court's historic June 2012 ruling regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius set the stage for a massive federalism battle over Medicaid expansion in the United States. The original language of the Act was intended to nationalize Medicaid by having every state expand their program's eligibility to all individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This would have significantly reshaped Medicaid, a joint federal-state health insurance program, into a universal entitlement for all low-income citizens. Currently, Medicaid eligibility varies dramatically from state to state. The Court held that the …

Unclaimed Remains And Next Of Kin: A New Path To The Final Resting Spot, W. Scott Johnson Esquire

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

In response to requests from health care facilities, law enforcement agencies, and funeral service establishments, Senator Kenny Alexander (DNorfolk) convened a workgroup of stakeholders to rewrite the statutes dealing with unclaimed remains and next of kin. In addition to serving the General Assembly, Senator Alexander owns several prominent funeral service establishments and is a funeral service licensee. His experience proved invaluable to the process. The stakeholder meetings began in the fall of 2013 and culminated in the introduction of Senate Bill 304 in the 2014 Session of the Virginia General Assembly. The bill passed without a single negative vote through …

The All Students Initiative, Anti-Bullying And Athletics For Home-Schooled Children: Education Reform In The 2013 General Assembly Session, Ashley Allen

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

In 2012, Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell announced "The Governor's K-12 Education Reform Summit: Investing in Students Today, Creating the Workforce of Tomorrow. " With this announcement, the Governor praised the Commonwealth's public school system while underscoring the need for improvement by stating, "Until every child, in every zip code is guaranteed access to a quality education, we have not done our job." The Governor's summit brought legislators, education stakeholders, and policymakers into one room to discuss issues facing the K-12 education system, such as teacher pay, educational choice, technology and innovation, and workforce development." At the summit, the Governor …

Religious Freedom Legislation In The 2013 Virginia General Assembly, Ellis M. West

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

This article consists of the following sections: Section one presents the content of the proposed amendment and explains the ways in which it is unclear, redundant, and otherwise poorly written. Section two addresses the issue of whether the provisions intended to protect religious expression, including prayer, are necessary and can solve the problems they are intended to solve. It also identifies the crucial challenge in cases involving religious expression - namely, determining correctly whether it is the government or a private individual or group that is expressing or promoting a religious belief or practice. This determination must be made because …

Federalism As A Preventative Measure: Avoiding State Enforcement Of Federal Anti-Gun Legislation In 2013, Brielle Hunt

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

This comment will delve into this question, seeking to answer whether or not the Constitution allows states to refuse to comply with federal law. This analysis requires the application of a constitutional principle that reaches far beyond the scope of the Right to Bear Arms; it calls into play the vertical separation of powers and the rights belonging to state sovereigns described in the Tenth Amendment. The comment will proceed as follows. Part II will address the constitutionality of House Bill 2340, compared against other kinds of legislation and in light of case law. It will be argued that the …

Virginia's War On Women: How Forcing Women To Have An Ultrasound Before Abortion Is Unconstitutional, Alison B. Linas

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

This comment will discuss how the ultrasound bill, like similar ones in other states, is unconstitutional for two reasons. First, requiring a woman to undergo a medically unnecessary procedure at her own expense is an undue burden under Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Second, the Supreme Court has held that competent people have the right to refuse medical care. By requiring a woman to have an ultrasound, the State is depriving her of her constitutional right to refuse care. Part 11 of this comment will focus on the Supreme Court's role in shaping abortion policy. Part II(A) concerns the history of …

Reproductive Freedom And Virginia's 2012 General Assembly Session, Katherine Greenier

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

While the Governor approved H.B. 462, the mandatory ultrasound bill, H.B. 62, H.B. 1285, and S.B. 637 failed in the General Assembly.37 As introduced this 2012 session, H.B. 1 contained different bill language than the prior years it has been introduced. H.B. 62, H.B. 1285, and S.B. 637 were new bills, not seen in past years. An analysis and overview of these measures sheds light on the increasing attempts and the tactics used by legislators to undermine reproductive freedom.

Dispatch From The Culture War: Virginia's Failed Hpv Vaccination Mandate, Rachel Reynolds

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

coverage seems to have become overshadowed. This paper will inquire into what makes Gardasil different from other vaccines, and how that impacts its administration. Part I will describe the specifics of the HPV vaccine: how it works and how Virginia decided to promote its usage. Part II will examine the ways in which jurisdictions have traditionally understood vaccination policy, and contrast it with the ways in which they have handled the HPV vaccine. Part III will examine the disadvantages of continuing the mandate's ineffective political war of attrition, and suggest a coalition-building strategy to effect policy that honors communal values …

The Unavoidable Ecclesiastical Collision In Virginia, Isaac A. Mcbeth, Jennifer R. Sykes

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

Section 5 7-9(A) of the Code of Virginia is a statute that purports to resolve church property disputes. There is, however, a significant amount of controversy as to whether the statute encroaches on the free exercise rights of hierarchical churches located in Virginia and enmeshes Virginia courts in the ecclesiastical thicket. Given the debate surrounding Section 57-9(A) and the controversial shift of several mainstream denominations in matters of substantive church doctrine, Virginia is a fertile breeding ground for church property disputes. Accordingly, the Commonwealth is in the midst of an ecclesiastical crisis. The impact of the crisis is evidenced by …

Legislative Control Of The Menhaden Fishery, Nicole M. Rovner, Matthew G. Curtis

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

This year, six menhaden- related bills were introduced in the Virginia General Assembly. Delegate John Cosgrove (RChesapeake) introduced legislation in the House of Delegates that was identical to Senate Bill 765, a bill that proposed to shift oversight of the menhaden fishery to the VMRC. This article aims to highlight the unique stance taken by Virginia's legislature and explain why this management is better left to the commission responsible for managing every other fishery in the Commonwealth. While there may not be a conclusive link between reduction industry practices and a decline in water quality, Virginia's legislators should recognize the …

Health Care Reform In Virginia: Lessons Learned Before, During, And After The 2011 Virginia General Assembly, Hunter W. Jamerson

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

This article surveys Virginia's initial foray into health care reform. This process began with the Virginia Health Reform Initiative, which had a significant presence in the Virginia 2011 General Assembly session. While the nascent health care reform efforts this session reflect only incremental steps, they are indicative of Virginia's direction and commitment to change. Such change, however, will carry great political and professional strife. This article highlights some examples of the challenges faced on the road to health care reform and discusses possible directions of future legislation in the Virginia General Assembly.

How House Bill 2063 And The Expansion Of Access To Protective Orders Could Have Saved Yeardley Love's Life, Amy Weiss

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

Battered women often face an uphill battle in the legal system. In the 2011 session, the Virginia General Assembly added a new tool to these women's arsenal.o An amended version of House Bill 2063 sponsored by Delegate Rob Bell (R- Albemarle) passed the House and Senate unanimously on February 26, 2011. This paper will examine Virginia protective order law before the enactment of House Bill 2063, how Yeardley Love's death was a catalyst for reform of the law, how the law will change under House Bill 2063, and possible future developments in legislative reform that could further help victims of …

With Great Technology Comes Great Responsibility: Virginia's Legislative Approach To Combating Cyberbullying, Kelsey Farbotko

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

This comment will examine Virginia's statutory response to the growing problem of cyberbullying, focusing particularly on the bills introduced in the most recent Virginia General Assembly ses- sion. Section II will define cyberbullying and other cybercrimes, as well as discuss the effects of this form of harassment and the impor- tance of regulating speech in this manner. Section III will describe current statutes that regulate cyberbullying, as well as the three bills that came before the Virginia General Assembly in its 2011 session. Particularly important is House Bill 2059, which differs from the oth- er two bills not only because …

Top Jobs Act Higher Education Reform Legislation, Mark E. Rubin

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

The most important piece of legislation affecting higher educa- tion passed by the 2011 Virginia General Assembly was Governor McDonnell's higher education reform bill. The title of the bill is quite expressive-"Preparing for the Top Jobs of the 21st Century: The Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011," or "TJ21.", It is significant because of its breadth, its innovative ap- proach to funding, and the government relations strategy utilized to assure its passage.

Lyme Disease: The Surprising Debate In The 2010 Virginia House Of Delegates, Gerald C. Canaan Ii, Karah L. Gunther

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

In most every General Assembly session, there are those bills that while on the surface appear fairly innocuous-quickly take on a life of their own, generating an audible buzz in and around the General Assembly Building. The 2010 Virginia General Assembly session was no different. Amidst hallway discussions concerning the budget, gun rights, and abortion, one could also hear the distinct murmur of a completely novel topic: Lyme disease. Often associated with a small, pesky insect known as the black-legged tick, until this year, Lyme disease had not been the subject of any controversial legislation proposed in the Commonwealth of …

Legal Preparedness For Pandemic Influenza: Is Virginia Ready, Kristen Digirolam

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

We cannot look at the legal issues of pandemic influenza in a vacuum. This paper attempts to identify the legal issues at stake during a pandemic and how those issues need to be discussed as a whole when preparing for a pandemic. Part II of this paper will give a brief description of pandemic influenza and look at the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. Part III will examine the origins of legal authority during a pandemic at the federal, state, and local levels of government. Part IV will look at some of the specific legal issues that may arise during …

The General Assembly's Structural Conflicts Of Interest, Waldo Jaquith

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

Virginia is not a state saddled with a reputation of ethically challenged legislators, but our part-time citizen legislature is structurally conducive to conflicts of interest. This reality was brought to the forefront in November 2009 when Delegate Phillip Hamilton resigned from the House of Delegates following revelations that he directed state appropriations into his own pocket. There is little doubt that the majority of legislators are scrupulous in their efforts to avoid such conflicts, but they must navigate treacherous waters to do so. Significant modifications to the structure and ethical standards of the General Assembly are necessary to correct this …

Jamming The Revolving Door: Legislative Setbacks For Mental Health Court Systems In Virginia, Sheila Moheb

Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest

Proponents of MHCs assert that alternative court systems will provide efficient jail diversion programs and reduce the number of individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system by directing them to appropriate community treatment facilities. At the same time, MHCs must serve as only one branch of a larger, cohesive community effort to deter individuals with mental illness from incarceration, if not from conviction. Both advocates and adversaries of MHCs remain wary of the potential misuse of mental health courts, which may subject people with mental illness to greater criminalization or lead to greater fragmentation of the mental health …