Virginia’s Circuit Court judges have a lot of power. Take, for instance, Roanoke County Circuit Court Judge Charles Dorsey, who ordered the Confederate statue outside the courthouse — or the courthouse itself — to be moved. As we say, judges have a lot of power. But is it limitless? Can you ask for a different judge in your Virginia family ...
On January 17, 1969, the United States Justice Department began a lawsuit against IBM1. The trial began on May 19, 1975 and was not over until January 8, 1982, when the same Justice Department withdrew its suit. That’s a case and trial that lasted 12 years, 11 months, and 23 days. The wheels of justice, they turn mighty slowly. How ...
Congratulations on successfully navigating your way through a tricky divorce from your one-time spouse. Now that you can say you have an ex, you need to tidy up some details. Like that pesky mortgage on that fabulous Virginia mansion … or ranch house … or bungalow. Big or little, your house had both your name and your ex’s name on ...
Mantras are not what most people think. Westerners tend to oversimplify rituals and philosophies to suit their own needs; mantras are no exception. A mantra is not a slogan to haul out when you are stressed. Yet many a divorced or divorcing (or simply splitting) dad could benefit from learning five guiding words to regain his calm when co-parenting seems ...
The greatest chess match ever played is said by most experts to be the 1999 game pitting Garry Kasparov against Veselin Topalov. If you worry that a divorce is like a chess match, you may think you need to plan five, or ten, or 20 moves ahead. So, who should make the first move? When it Come to Divorce, is ...
Are we all getting angrier or are we just more aware of our anger? Anger is clearly popular in movies; consider hits like “Falling Down,” “Anger Management,” or “The Belko Experiment.” It also pervades the self-help section of bookstores and Reddit. Anger is one common misstep in communicating, especially when guys are trying to communicate with their wives. Here are ...
Bilboes, Brands, and Branks may sound like a competing Virginia law firm, but it’s really a list of three punishments once meted out in Colonial Williamsburg1. Bilboes (long iron bars affixed with shackles), brands (heated irons for human flesh), and branks (“scold’s bridles,” head-sized metal cages with iron tongues) were brutal punishments. They are directly related to a subpoena, since ...
What’s your favorite color? If you’re like most people, it’s blue. That is not likely to be the kind of question a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (JDRDC) judge will ask during a child custody hearing. Here’s what she or he will ask. How Common is it for a Judge to Interview a Child for a Custody Case? When ...
Virginia offers separating and divorcing parents several options with child custody. The law reads, “The court shall consider and may award joint legal, joint physical, or sole custody, and there shall be no presumption in favor of any form of custody.” One option is 50/50 physical custody, under which both parents enjoy their children half the time. But child custody ...