tloojs
Feb 26, 20219 min read
Summary and Analysis of Published Opinions of the Court of Appeals, February 23, 2021
I freely admit that this post is overdue. But I have the good excuse that I have actually been drawing some interest in my new role as...
tloojs
Feb 15, 20213 min read
Etymology and the Law: Of Fatted Calves, Innkeepers, and Putting Up at a Hotel
There is a story, possibly apocryphal, that when a new English translation of the Bible was being edited the committee charged with...
tloojs
Feb 14, 20215 min read
Hey Judges! Here’s Some Advice: Si Tacuisses, Philosophus Mansisses
The maxim, Si Tacuisses, Philosophus Mansisses is often attributed to the Latin philosopher Boethius. An exact translation is “If you...
tloojs
Feb 14, 20214 min read
Of Carjackings and Appellate Unicorns
Continuing my review of cases handed down before this blog launched, I came across Fletcher v. Commonwealth, a published decision from...
tloojs
Feb 13, 20213 min read
Carbon Copy Indictments — An Issue that Needs to be Raised (Again)
Ok The main part of this blog is devoted to decisions of the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Occasionally, however, I will stray in other...
tloojs
Feb 12, 20213 min read
Yes, Virginia, There is Private Prosecution . . . But It’s Rarely a Good Idea
Private prosecutions are not a unique feature of Virginia law and the practice is even common in some states. In Virginia, however, the...
tloojs
Feb 11, 20212 min read
The Legislature is Debating Whether to Get Rid of Mandatory Minimum Sentences. A jury in the City o
Norman L. Blowe, Jr. v. Commonwealth of Virginia 10/27/2020. It was not disputed that, in Blowe’s trial for two counts of production of...
tloojs
Feb 10, 202114 min read
Summary and Analysis of Published Opinions of the Court of Appeals, February 9, 2021
The Court of Appeals hands down two published opinions today, both in Domestic Relations cases. The first involves cross-appeals and an...
tloojs
Feb 8, 20214 min read
With All Due Respect to Tolstoy, Unhappy Families are Not So Unique in Their Circumstances
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy (1878). While I hold Tolstoy...
tloojs
Feb 8, 20215 min read
It’s Not Often You See a Court Referring to A Fairytale for A Legal Point
When I began this blog about a month ago, I promised that would from time to time reach back to review opinions of the Court of Appeals...
tloojs
Feb 3, 20216 min read
Summary and Analysis of Published Opinion of the Court of Appeals, February 2, 2021
The Court of Appeals pop its head up long enough to release one opinion today before ducking its head down again prophesying six more...
tloojs
Feb 3, 20214 min read
Five Unpublished Opinions in Search of an Essay
Today the Court of Appeals hands down five unpublished opinions (a separate entry will follow on the single published opinion). I have...