Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers |
SAVE THE DATE: VACDL's Spring Seminar 2023 April 20-21, 2023 Hyatt House in Short Pump This program will be hybrid, with in person and virtual attendance options offered!  Did you miss out on grabbing a new 30th Anniversary shirt at the Spring Seminar or Fall CLE? T-shirts are always available to purchase online, by visiting our storefront: VACDL 30th Anniversary Tshirt Shop You can customize your t-shirt style or color, and pick from an extended range of sizes. We look forward to seeing you rock a VACDL tshirt at our next happy hour or seminar!
If you are a full-time Virginia Public Defender, make sure to take advantage of your VIDC group rate VACDL membership! Joining VACDL is super easy online [just click the "JOIN TODAY" button on this page!], and once your application has been approved by the VACDL Executive Director (she will confirm your employment with the VIDC), you can be added to the VACDL List Serv. We value your point of view and experience, so join today!
COVID-19 COURT UPDATE: ORDERS EXTENDING DECLARATION OF JUDICIAL EMERGENCY from the Supreme Court of Virginia: SCV 40th Judicial Emergency Order SCV 39th Order Extending Judicial Emergency SCV 38th Order Extending Judicial Emergency SCV 37th Order Extending Judicial Emergency SCV 36th Order Extending Judicial Emergency SCV 35th Order Extending Judicial Emergency Court of Appeals 7th Judicial Emergency Order SCV 34th Order Extending Judicial Emergency SCV Press Release 1.3.22 Oral Arguments Remote for Jan Session SCV 33rd Order Extending Judicial Emergency 32nd Order Extending Judicial Emergency to January 5, 2022 SCV oral argument in person to resume 1.1.22 31st Order Extending Judicial Emergency 30th Order Extending Judicial Emergency 29th Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 11-3-21 28th Order Extending Judicial Emergency 27th SCV Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 9-22-21 26th Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 9-1-21 25th SCV Order Extending Judicial Emergency 24th SCV Order Extending Judicial Emergency 23rd SCV Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 7-11-21 22nd Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 062021 Amendment to 21st Order Extending Judicial Emergency (re:Masks) 21st Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 053021 20th Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 050921 19th Order Extending Judicial Emergency through 04-18-21 18th Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 3-28-21 17th Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 3-7-21 SCV 16th Order Extending Judicial Emergency to 21421 SCV 15th Order Extending Declaration of Judicial Emergency SCV 14th Order Extending Declaration of Judicial Emergency Court of Appeals Fourth Order concerning operations 112320 SCV Twelfth Order Extending Declaration of Judicial Emergency 101920.pdf Declaration of Judicial Emergency 11th ORDER through 11.1.20.pdf SCV 9-11-20 Second Speedy Trial Tolling Clarification Order SCV 10th Order extending Judicial Emergency 9-4-20 Court of Appeals Third Order concerning operations 083120 SCV Ninth Order Extending Judicial Emergency 8-20-20 2020_0807_SCV_amendment_to_eighth_order.pdf 2020_0728_SCV_eighth_order.pdf SCV Seventh Order 2020_0708.pdf Order-6-Judicial-Emergency-Extending-Order-6-22-2020.pdf CAV Second Operations Order (June 23, 2020).pdf SCV temp efiling Order 6-2-20.pdf Order 5--Judicial Emergency Modifying and Extending Order--6-1-2020.pdf SCV Extension of Judicial Emergency to June 10 2020.pdf SCV Third Order Extending Declaration of Judicial Emergency.pdf 2020_0327_SCV_order_extending_declaration_of_judicial_emergency.pdf SCV Declaration of Judicial Emergency COVID-19 3-16-2020 Order.pdf VA Supreme Court Judicial Emergency Clarification Order--5-1-2020.pdf. VA Dept of Corrections-covid19-early-release-plan.pdf http://www.courts.state.va.us/news/items/covid_19.pdf There is a lot of discussion on the VACDL List Serv regarding the COVID-19 closures and how your cases and clients are being affected. If you are a VACDL member and have not subscribed to the List Serv, please contact Executive Director Danielle Payne at vacdlawyers@gmail.com for List Serv access information
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  "A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer." -Robert Frost | SPECIAL DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP OFFER Join (or rejoin!) VACDL in December 2022 and receive 4 months of VACDL membership for free! Your membership dues will not be payable again until April 1, 2024, so this is a GREAT time to join the VACDL community! Just click the "Join Today" button!
To join the Defenders Circle, click here: Defenders Circle April 26, 2022VADOC to Implement New Mail Protocols to Reduce Contraband SmugglingThe Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) today announced new protocols for attorney, court, or non-attorney/court entities wishing to send legal correspondence to an inmate or a Community Corrections Alternative Program probationer/parolee. According to the DOC, some individuals “…are sending dangerous and illegal contraband to inmates using mail that is falsely labeled as legal mail.” To reduce this issue, effective July 1, 2022, all legal correspondence from attorneys and others must be sent directly to the DOC’s Centralized Mail Distribution Center, at this mailing address: VA DOC Centralized Mail Distribution Center For attorneys, all envelopes containing legal correspondence must include a full return address with the law office name and address. For Courts/Court Entity, all envelopes containing legal correspondence must contain the full return address of the court or court entity. All legal correspondence will be scanned, tracked, and screened by Virginia Department of Corrections staff for the detection of any illicit substances. Upon completion of the screening process, provided there are no extenuating circumstances, all correspondence will be delivered via USPS Priority Express mail services on the same business day of receipt. According to the DOC, this process will eliminate facility staff from having to contact the courts directly for verification purposes. Read the DOC's press release.
Membership Dues If you are a former VACDL member, or have inadvertently let your membership lapse, now is a great time to re-join the only voluntary Virginia bar organization exclusively focused on criminal defense! And remember, only VACDL members in good standing have access to our List Serv so contact VACDL's Exec. Director at vacdlawyers@gmail.com if you have questions about your VACDL membership status! 
LexisNexis has partnered with VACDL on the production of Virginia Criminal Laws Annotated, an "essential reference for criminal law practitioners with comprehensive coverage of Virginia criminal laws and procedure." VACDL had input into the content and design, and will continue to be involved in production in coming years. It is available for purchase as a large softbound volume or as an ebook, for the great price of $79. As an extra benefit of your membership, VACDL members in good standing receive an additional 25% discount on the regular price!* BUY YOUR COPY TODAY! To save 25% on Virginia Criminal Laws Annotated, please reference or enter promotion code: VACDL2022 Visit the LexisNexis® Store at http://www.lexisnexis.com/VACDL2021or call 800.533.1637 to speak with a LexisNexis® account representative.
*Offer applies to new orders only. Prices are before shipping and taxes are calculated, shipped to a U.S. address only. Prices are subject to change without notice. LexisNexis® eBook, CD, DVD and downloadable product sales are final and not returnable. Current subscriptions, future renewals or updates and certain products are excluded from this offer. Sales to federal government customers may be subject to specific contract pricing. Discounts may be available to customers who subscribe to both online and print publications, subject to your employer’s policy. Other restrictions may apply. Void where prohibited. See www.lexisnexis.com/StoreTerms.
Registration is through the VIDC, and there is no cost. The VIDC website (vadefenders.org) provides an overview of the court-appointed counsel certification process. We encourage all VACDL members to become certified to take court-appointed cases, and we offer a mentorship program to assist with the trial requirements for felony case certification. 1604 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 200 Richmond, VA 23229
Virginia COVID-19 Justice Coalition:
VIDC openings can be found on the careers page. If you have any questions about the positions feel free to contact Amari Harris at aharris@vadefenders.org __________________________________________________
FROM THE VACDL BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Board of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL) expresses sorrow and anger over the experiences of the innumerable victims of excessive force, over-policing, and the militarization of law enforcement that have increasingly been brought to light, most recently with the deaths of George Floyd and others. Recent events have acted as a catalyst for reform. Many factors that have been swept under the rug for decades contribute to the injustices that we are seeing. We are an organization dedicated to the presumption of innocence and due process for all. It is painfully obvious that there are too many unnecessary deaths in police-citizen encounters which are a result of systemic problems, including racism, that have been neglected for far too long. We are now at a crossroads where there is widespread recognition of these problems and that they can no longer be ignored. As we move forward to create new ways to police our society, we must also recognize that the issues are not simple and the solutions are going to require the input of all stakeholders in our community, including citizens, police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, legislators, and judges. The criminal justice system is where the effects of racism are often most visible. Disproportionate arrests of people of color and overly punitive application of laws have a disparate impact on minority communities. VACDL calls for changes that are long overdue. This is a time for reform. VACDL is committed to fighting against racism and injustice through legislative advocacy, by holding our elected officials to account, and pushing for real, significant reform in policing. VACDL will continue to fight for a fair and just system. These changes will not come easily, but we will continue to ensure that our organization, and the voice of our membership, and our clients, will be involved in these important discussions. Our goal is, and has always been, to ensure equal justice for everyone regardless of who they are, where they come from or the color of their skin. VACDL’s stated mission is ‘to improve the quality of justice in Virginia by seeking to ensure fairness and equality before the law,’ and that applies to all. We stand together with those who fight injustice and join in the growing momentum to create genuine and lasting change now, and remedy the systemic problems plaguing our criminal justice system and society. ___________________________________ | Not a VACDL member?SponsorsVACDL endorses the following sponsors and partners:
Anthony "Tony" Anderson Hugh E. "Teddy" Black, III André A. Hakes David M. Lee Michael McPheeters Matt C. Pinsker Doug Ramseur Sandra Saseen-Smith Bruce R. Williamson, Jr. VACDL LIST SERVOur List Serv is now hosted by Gaggle.email (the clunky Yahoo Group is gone for good). New (or formerly lapsed) VACDL members will receive the access link upon approval of their membership applications. If you need the link re-sent, please reach out! Contact Executive Director Danielle Payne at vacdlawyers@gmail.com with any questions! VACDL Newsletter
Each quarter, VACDL sends a newsletter, The Virginia Champion, to active members. Recent past editions are available in the Member's Only Section.
*Members can now choose electronic or mailed delivery for The Virginia Champion. In your Member Profile, click "Edit Profile" and select your preferred delivery option!*
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