The VBA Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Bar Association.
Issue link: http://vba.epubxp.com/i/80228
Q&% [MXL 'LMIJ .YWXMGI ']RXLME ( /MRWIV %X XLI %TTIPPEXI 7YQQMX XLMW WTVMRK XLI 'LMIJ .YWXMGI ETTIEVIH SR E TERIP [MXL JVSQ PIJX ,SR ;MPPMEQ & 8VE\PIV .V GLMIJ NYHKI SJ XLI 9 7 'SYVX SJ %TTIEPW JSV XLI *SYVXL 'MVGYMX ERH 'LMIJ .YHKI ;EPXIV 7 *IPXSR .V SJ XLI 'SYVX SJ %TTIEPW SJ :MVKMRME Photo by Marilyn Shaw -R IEVP] 'LMIJ .YWXMGI /MRWIV NSMRIH SXLIV 7YTVIQI 'SYVX NYWXMGIW EX XLI *SVIZIV 8VII HIHMGEXMSR LSRSVMRK XLI PEXI 'LMIJ .YWXMGI 0IVS] 6 ,EWWIPP 7V EJXIV XLI WIGSRH 4VS &SRS; 7YQQMX Photo by Marilyn Shaw developing an electronic filing system. We've been able to in- troduce new case management programs and are continuing to introduce those in the courts. Online payments of fines have increased and that's certainly helped a lot in the district courts. So, we're moving forward with technology and would move faster but for the budget cuts we've had to endure in the past few years. I think technology is important in courts, not only in Virginia but nationwide. It's going to enable courts to be more efficient and to handle more cases and further the administration of jus- tice with fewer resources. But we have to have the money to make those technology improvements before we can go forward with them. 3RI SJ XLI WYGGIWWIW XLMW +IRIVEP %WWIQ- FP] WIWWMSR [EW XLI EYXLSVM^EXMSR SJ XLI 6YPIW SJ )ZMHIRGI % Tere were only two states – Virginia and Massachusetts – that did not have codified Rules of Evidence and now we will be one of those states that do have those rules. I'm excited about it. I think it brings together in one organized document the existing common law and statutory rules of evidence. Tey've been drafted and edited and vetted by the Boyd-Graves Con- ference and a lot of different statewide bar organizations and individual attorneys for many, many years. Tey, I think, reflect no changes in the evidentiary rules in Virginia but just bring them together in an organized fashion. Tey're drafted in neu- tral language – they're not pro-plaintiff, pro-defendant – but just reflect the state of evidence in the Commonwealth. I think it will be a very useful tool in the trial of cases to be used both by the judiciary and lawyers. I think it'll be espe- cially helpful to new lawyers who just start out. I remember many years ago as a young trial lawyer trying to pull together the research to be able to articulate to a judge my evidentiary objection and it was primarily relying on cases that I could pull together. So this will give those young lawyers a set of rules that they can point to. I think it will make for more efficient and better tried cases in the Commonwealth. ;LEX EVI XLI QSWX VI[EVHMRK IPIQIRXW SJ [SVOMRK SR XLI WXEXI 7YTVIQI 'SYVX# Probably two things. First and foremost are the col- leagues who sit on the bench with me. From the moment that I first became a justice on this court to this very day, I have had the privilege and wonderful opportunity to work with some outstanding individuals. All these individuals are wonderful jurists and I have learned so much from all of them and continue to learn from my colleagues. % In April, the VBA coordinated the second 'LMIJ .YWXMGI´W 4VS &SRS; 7YQQMX LSWXIH by the Court. What did you take away JVSQ XLI IZIRX# I think it did two things. It recognized the achievement that had been accomplished since the first Pro Bono Summit and I think it keeps on the forefront the need for more pro bono services to be provided. We all know with the economic downturn and with funding being cut to legal aid societies that % FALL 2012 t 25