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Full-Text Articles in Law
Ethics In Virginia: Reforming Ethics And Conflict Of Interest Laws In The 2010 Virginia General Assembly, Christopher E. Piper
Ethics In Virginia: Reforming Ethics And Conflict Of Interest Laws In The 2010 Virginia General Assembly, Christopher E. Piper
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
This article will review the process by which an ethics complaint was handled in 2009 as well as the laws that passed the 2010 General Assembly. It will also examine criticisms of ethics laws in Virginia and throughout the country. Finally, this article concludes with a discussion of the current criticisms of ethics laws in Virginia and across the country.
Access Denied: Sexual Victimization Of Juveniles In Correctional Facilities - How Senate Bill 585 Could Have Helped, Jillian Malizio
Access Denied: Sexual Victimization Of Juveniles In Correctional Facilities - How Senate Bill 585 Could Have Helped, Jillian Malizio
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
The right to counsel is a fundamental right, one the framers of our Constitution intended to apply to all American citizens. Virginia statutes and case law have protected the rights of incarcerated adults and it is now time to grant those same protections to the juveniles in their custody. Part II of this comment will review the requirement of a prisoner's right to "meaningful access" to the courts from both an adult and juvenile's perspective. An examination of jurisprudence from the Supreme Court of the United States, and Circuit Courts, reveals the history and importance of "meaningful access" and shows …
Deferred Education Budget Decision Has Long Range Implications, Robley Shelton Jones
Deferred Education Budget Decision Has Long Range Implications, Robley Shelton Jones
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Four Senators and four Delegates conferred for the purpose of developing the public education portion of the state budget for the second year of this biennium. These Senators and Delegates met knowing full and well that Virginia ranked thirty-seventh in the nation in per pupil state support for public education in 2008. They also met with the knowledge that there was a $3.7 billion state revenue shortfall. Going into this session, education advocates perceived there to be two battles-the first battle would attempt to minimize budget cuts, while the second battle would attempt to keep the cuts from being permanent. …
A Defense Of Legislative Redistricting, Delegate Mark Cole
A Defense Of Legislative Redistricting, Delegate Mark Cole
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Virginia is one of thirty-six states in which the legislature holds primary responsibility for the process of redrawing the lines of legislative and congressional districts after the completion of each decennial census. During the last two sessions of the Virginia General Assembly, however, there have been concerted efforts by Governor Tim Kaine, General Assembly Democrats, and a collection of interest groups calling themselves the Virginia Redistricting Coalition to limit the legislature's responsibility for redistricting. In 2008 and 2009, those efforts failed.
Bipartisan Redistricting, Senator R. Creigh Deeds
Bipartisan Redistricting, Senator R. Creigh Deeds
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
The redistricting of legislative lines, whether for the houses of the General Assembly or Virginia's congressional delegation, is currently riddled with partisan politics. It appears, however, that different political parties will control the two houses of the legislature during the next redistricting process for the first time in our Commonwealth's history. Whether this is to be the case for the redistricting of 2011 will be decided by future events, but currently Democrats control the State Senate and Republicans have a majority of the House of the Delegates. The next Governor will also play a significant role in redistricting. With no …
Schools, Mandates, And Money: Education In The 2009 Session Of The Virginia General Assembly, Angela A. Ciolf, Sarah A. Geddes
Schools, Mandates, And Money: Education In The 2009 Session Of The Virginia General Assembly, Angela A. Ciolf, Sarah A. Geddes
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
This article will recount the development of this year's revisions to the 2008-2010 budget, examine the long-term implications of budgetary decisions affecting public education, and review notable pieces of substantive education legislation. It will also highlight the major features of the new Standards of Accreditation-implementing graduation rate accountability-and special education regulations. Finally, this article will offer a framework for analyzing the critical education-funding decisions likely to come before the 2010 General Assembly as Virginia continues to feel the effects of a global economic crisis.
Taking Aim At The Virginia Triggerman Rule: A Commentary On House Bill 2358, Anisa Mohanty
Taking Aim At The Virginia Triggerman Rule: A Commentary On House Bill 2358, Anisa Mohanty
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
This Comment will examine the legislative history of the triggerman rule in Virginia in Part I. Part II will explore the justifications and criticisms of an expansion to the triggerman rule. Part III will present a short study of American jurisprudence with respect to the death penalty and non-triggermen. Finally, Part IV will discuss the future implications for Virginia's criminal justice system if the expansion to the triggerman rule eventually becomes law.
A View Through The Gun Show Loophole, Andrew Goddard
A View Through The Gun Show Loophole, Andrew Goddard
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
The term "Gun Show Loophole" came about as a result of the passage of the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 19861 and the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993. These laws effectively created a dual standard for gun sales based on the federal license status of the seller. The Brady Act mandated that licensed gun dealers must conduct criminal background checks on potential buyers regardless of whether the sale takes place at the dealer's store or at a gun show, whereas the Firearm Owners Protection Act expressly exempted "persons making occasional sales or selling all or part of a …
House Bill 2326 And Its Effect On Cochran V. Board Of Zoning Appeal's Chill: How Variances In Virginia May Thaw After Code Revision, Michael Keoni Medici
House Bill 2326 And Its Effect On Cochran V. Board Of Zoning Appeal's Chill: How Variances In Virginia May Thaw After Code Revision, Michael Keoni Medici
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
For quite some time, those who applied for variances enjoyed a likelihood of realizing their efforts. Since 2004, however, Virginia has experienced heightened judicial scrutiny over the administration of variances. The 2009 General Assembly of Virginia reviewed relevant sections of the Code of Virginia and amended the law concerning variances. The effect of the General Assembly's seemingly slight revision presents the purpose of this comment. Part II of this comment presents the General Assembly's enactment. Part III discusses the development of the relevant area of variance law that has fostered dissent. This part also presents Cochran v. Fairfax County Board …
Entry And Service Of Protective Orders In Virginia: Are You Really Protected, Susheela Varky
Entry And Service Of Protective Orders In Virginia: Are You Really Protected, Susheela Varky
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
According to the Virginia Department of State Police, there has been a legislative effort in 2008 and 2009 over the past two years to ensure that essential data from protective orders1 is entered into the Virginia Criminal Information Network ("VCIN") immediately upon the order's issuance. While data entry may seem like a dull topic, the following story highlights the dire significance of this seemingly mundane task.
Notable Bills Of The 2009 Session Of The Virginia General Assembly
Notable Bills Of The 2009 Session Of The Virginia General Assembly
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Notable House and Senate Bills during the 2009 session of the Virginia General Assembly
Why All The King's Horses And All The King's Men Couldn't Putsovereign Immunity Back Together Again:An Analysis Of The Test Created In James V. Jane, Colleen F. Shepherd
Why All The King's Horses And All The King's Men Couldn't Putsovereign Immunity Back Together Again:An Analysis Of The Test Created In James V. Jane, Colleen F. Shepherd
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
In creating the test to determine whether government employees in the Commonwealth of Virginia are entitled to the benefit of sovereign tort immunity, the Supreme Court of Virginia stated, "[a] dmittedly, no single all-inclusive rule can be enunciated or applied in determining entitlement to sovereign immunity." The court, however, managed to formulate a four-part test to be consistently applied to each situation requiring a determination of whether sovereign immunity should be granted to a state employee. This article will examine the discretion prong of the four-part test created by the court in James v. Jane and the reasons why the …
Two Thumbs Down: In The Absence Of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Ill-Conceived Bills Flood The Virginia General Assembly, Leigh A. Sellers
Two Thumbs Down: In The Absence Of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Ill-Conceived Bills Flood The Virginia General Assembly, Leigh A. Sellers
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
On July 26, 2007, a federal court ruled it unconstitutional for city officials in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, to implement a local anti-immigrant ordinance that punished employers and landlords for doing business with undocumented immigrants. Despite this well-grounded landmark decision, local governments throughout the nation continue to develop patchwork solutions to a broken federal immigration system, endangering the health and well-being of communities and people alike. Virginia has positioned itself at the forefront of America's immigration debate. Leading up to the 2008 General Assembly session, localities throughout the state developed public statements on immigration, reaffirmed English as the official language, and considered …
Who You Gonna Call - Virginia's Multi-Year Effort To Create A Children's Ombudsman Office, Melissa Goemann
Who You Gonna Call - Virginia's Multi-Year Effort To Create A Children's Ombudsman Office, Melissa Goemann
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
If your home was overrun with spirits in the movie Ghostbusters, it was easy to know who to call-Ghostbusters! But for a child or parent to navigate through the maze of Virginia bureaucracies to figure out whom to call when questions or concerns arise about a child in state care can be difficult, if not impossible. A desire to simplify that process formed the impetus for recent Virginia legislation to establish a children's ombudsman office. Indeed, the ombudsman legislation would elevate the ombudsman beyond the role of simply "ghostbusting," or handling each complaint in a vacuum. It would also require …
Secondhand Smoke Deserves First-Rate Attention, Rickie Fulcher
Secondhand Smoke Deserves First-Rate Attention, Rickie Fulcher
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Most people probably do not know that as many as 65,000 nonsmokers die from secondhand smoke exposure each year. In fact, secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. During the 2008 session of the Virginia General Assembly, state legislators commendably introduced twelve smoke-free bills -the most in the legislature's history. While many of these efforts to protect the public health succeeded in the Senate, a House of Delegates subcommittee declined to hear many of the bills, effectively removing them from further consideration. Clearly, Virginia has a long way to go, but support for …
New Era Begins: Mental Health Law Reform In Virginia, Jane D. Hickey, Allyson K. Tysinger, William C. Mims
New Era Begins: Mental Health Law Reform In Virginia, Jane D. Hickey, Allyson K. Tysinger, William C. Mims
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Amidst calls for mental health reform and a sense of urgency stemming from the tragic events at Virginia Tech, the 2008 session of the Virginia General Assembly convened. The legislative reaction was overwhelming: Legislators introduced a vast array of bills relating to mental health. By the end of the session, the General Assembly enacted the most sweeping revisions to Virginia's mental health laws since the 1970s.
Dui Gilt Pl8: An Evaluation Of The Proposed Shaming Sanction For Multiple Dui Offenders, Theresa M. Young
Dui Gilt Pl8: An Evaluation Of The Proposed Shaming Sanction For Multiple Dui Offenders, Theresa M. Young
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
This comment seeks to analyze House Bill 1281 in the larger social context of shaming sanctions. It begins by tracing a brief history of offender punishment from the common use of shaming mechanisms to their disappearance and gradual resurgence. It further looks to the theoretical foundations of such alternative sanctions, as well as their potential effects on both individual conduct and social norms. Finally, it looks at the relationship between other approaches to DUI convictions and the methods proposed in Virginia.
The Price Of Privilege: Is Virginia's Ban On Mental Health Professionals' Participation In Custody Determinations Really In The Best Interests Of The Child, Mary Wilkins Hunt
The Price Of Privilege: Is Virginia's Ban On Mental Health Professionals' Participation In Custody Determinations Really In The Best Interests Of The Child, Mary Wilkins Hunt
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
This article examines the national treatment of mental health care professionals' participation in custody determinations and compares these practices with Virginia's ban. Furthermore, this article explores the rationale behind the ban on therapist testimony while weighing the pros and cons of allowing such evidence to be used. It then takes a closer look at the arguments for repealing the ban and the possible benefits which could result from the 2008 repeal.
Ramifications Of Felony Disenfranchisement On The Votingpopulation In The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Dr. Monica Robbers
Ramifications Of Felony Disenfranchisement On The Votingpopulation In The Commonwealth Of Virginia, Dr. Monica Robbers
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Virginia is one of 12 states in the United States that does not automatically restore the right to vote to all felons who have completed their sentences. This paper provides the historical context offelony disenfranchisement in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and includes an examination of legislation and the rationales behind it. Descriptive empirical analysis of individuals in Virginia who have been disenfranchised and the impact this has on the Commonwealth's voting population is conducted for the year 2000. In addition, analysis of the impact of disenfranchisement on voting in two counties and two cities is incorporated. Discussion of current policy …
Indices
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Index of bills from the House and Senate of the Virginia General Assembly
Mental Health In Virginia, Phillip Hamilton
Mental Health In Virginia, Phillip Hamilton
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Since the April 16, 2007 tragedy at Virginia Tech, the public's attention has focused on Virginia's mental health system. Like far too many public policy issues that face the government, it often takes a tragedy to bring an issue to the point where real action is taken. Over the years, one of the major issues facing Virginia has been how to best meet the needs of its citizens requiring mental health services. This is not a new issue. Since 1949 there have been many studies of Virginia's mental health system. These studies have emphasized the same issues over and over …
Promised Reforms Fall Short Of The Mark, Colleen Miller
Promised Reforms Fall Short Of The Mark, Colleen Miller
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Did the General Assembly pass sweeping mental health law reforms? Do the new laws make it easier to hospitalize individuals against their will, and if so, is that a desirable end? While new legislation rewords our civil commitment statute, do the new words really improve Virginia's mental health care system? In all likelihood, the most significant effect of the new legislation will be making our mental health laws more vulnerable to constitutional challenge, while simultaneously making it more difficult for Virginians to get necessary mental health treatment voluntarily.
Illegal Immigration In The Virginia General Assembly - From The Perspective Of An Advocate Of Passing Laws To Stop Illegal Immigration: Why Do It And What Can Be Done, David B. Albo
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
An editorial discussing the following, 1. Why legislators want to pass laws to discourage illegal alien: The problem with illegal immigration isn't the people it's the cost, 2. How legislators can pass laws to discourage illegal aliens from coming to Virginia, 3. 2008 legislation on immigration
The Role Of Citizens In Environmental Decision-Making, Nicole M. Rovner
The Role Of Citizens In Environmental Decision-Making, Nicole M. Rovner
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
This article will describe five versions of the DEQ legislation from the bill's legislative journal: the bill as introduced, the bill that passed the General Assembly in 2007 with a reenactment clause, the bill introduced on behalf of proponents of board restructuring at the beginning of the 2008 session, the bill introduced on behalf of the restructuring bill's opponents, and the legislation that was enacted and will become effective on July 1, 2008. For each version of the bill, this article seeks to identify views regarding the nature of permitting decisions and the role of citizens in making those decisions.
Bills Passed By The 2008 Session Of The General Assembly
Bills Passed By The 2008 Session Of The General Assembly
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
A legislative summary about the bills that passed in the 2008 Virginia General Assembly
Virginia's Sexually Violence Predators Act: A Guide For Virginia [Court-Appointed] Attorneys, Neal Lewis
Virginia's Sexually Violence Predators Act: A Guide For Virginia [Court-Appointed] Attorneys, Neal Lewis
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
Following this introduction, Part I deals with a brief historical perspective on SVP statutes. Part II provides an outline of the preliminary processes involved before an SVP civil commitment proceeding is started. Part III discusses the courtroom phases of trial, both the probable cause hearing and the trial itself. Part IV discusses the options for the judge following trial. This comment concludes with a discussion of some possible approaches for the courtappointed attorney in handling SVP civil commitment cases.
The Death Penalty In Virginia: Attempts At Legislative Reform, Tara Elgie
The Death Penalty In Virginia: Attempts At Legislative Reform, Tara Elgie
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
This paper will argue that the time has come for legislative reform of capital punishment. It will briefly examine the history of the death penalty, focusing on the provisions under which it was reinstated and whether those provisions are met under today's implementation. Then it will look to recent attempts by the Virginia General Assembly to reform the procedures by which it implements the death penalty. The paper will also explore public perception of the death penalty as an explanation for why the death penalty persists as the ultimate punishment, despite recent problems with its implementation.
State Regulation Of Federal Prosecutors: The Impact On Contact With Represented Persons In Virginia, Robert H. Burger
State Regulation Of Federal Prosecutors: The Impact On Contact With Represented Persons In Virginia, Robert H. Burger
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
The first section of this paper analyzes the ethics rule promulgated by the Department of Justice. The DOJ rule governs those circumstances in which federal prosecutors may communicate with individuals known to be represented by counsel, without the consent of such counsel. The second and third sections of this paper discuss the judicial and statutory rejection of the DOJ rule respectively. First, in O'Keefe v. McDonnell Douglas," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reasoned that the DOJ lacked authority to promulgate their ethics rule. As a result of this conclusion, the Eighth Circuit held the DOJ rule …
Corporate Welfare:If Business Location Incentives Do Not Work, Why Do Localities Continue To Offer Them?, Katja Hamel
Corporate Welfare:If Business Location Incentives Do Not Work, Why Do Localities Continue To Offer Them?, Katja Hamel
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
State and local governments provide a variety of inducements to persuade private industries to locate in their areas. Corporate welfare takes the form of property and sales tax abatements or exemptions, low interest loans, grants, utility credits, and other financial incentives given to companies by states and localities with the expectation that these companies will bring with them more jobs and increased revenue for the residents of those communities. Because these programs are largely promise- based rather than performance based, they often fail to meet expectations. Despite the overall inefficiencies of business location incentives, other factors assure their continued use.
Virginia As A Model For Other State Welfare - Plans Virginia's Welfare Reform: Current Law And Effects, Laura Piper
Virginia As A Model For Other State Welfare - Plans Virginia's Welfare Reform: Current Law And Effects, Laura Piper
Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest
In 1995, Virginia became the first state to submit a comprehensive statewide welfare reform plan to the federal government.The crusade for a more effective Virginia welfare system was led by Governor George Allen.The federal government granted Virginia numerous waivers from federal regulations enabling Virginia to implement the Virginia Independence Plan ("VIP") and the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare ("VIEW") component.According to the Virginia Department of Health and Human Resource's 1996 annual report, because of VIP and VIEW the number of welfare recipients decreased, employment rates increased and taxpayers saved 24 million dollars. On February 1, 1997, in response to …