by Jon Sheldon | Nov 5, 2020 | Virginia
The Chair of the Supreme Court-appointed working group had reached out to attorney Sheldon in August with several questions. Its a very impressive group and an important and significant report. This is clearly the biggest suggested change in the Virginia Judiciary...
by Jon Sheldon | Nov 1, 2020 | Virginia
For all of Virginia’s history, the Commonwealth has used jury sentencing in criminal trials. This use of jury sentencing in criminal trials appears to be nearing the end. With a vote in the House of Delegates on October 23, 2020, Virginia is finally poised to follow...
by Jon Sheldon | Nov 1, 2020 | Jonathan Sheldon
A sheriff’s deputy from Pulaski county was found to not have qualified immunity for mistakenly charging a woman with drug distribution. Qualified Immunity is a judicially created doctrine that gives certain government officials immunity from civil suits related to...
by Jon Sheldon | Oct 14, 2020 | Jonathan Sheldon
The Virginia General Assembly recently made procedural changes to the signature requirement of pleadings. The new change says that pleadings that are not properly signed are defective and voidable. Though opposing counsel needs to raise an objection in a timely manner...
by Jon Sheldon | Oct 14, 2020 | Virginia
An Arlington Circuit Court Judge has recently rejected a plea deal because it “went to easy” on a defendant. The same Arlington Circuit Court Judge recently tried to limit the discretion of prosecutors to unilaterally get rid of penalties for minor drug crimes. The...
