April 03, 2019
Virginia State Bar Newsletter April 2019
The following went out as part of a monthly news summary email to all Virginia lawyers on April 3. To make sure you are receiving the VSB emails, update your contact information in the lawyer portal and add vsbnews@vsb.org to the account’s address book.
Governance
The Supreme Court of Virginia seeks comment – due May 21 – on a proposed change to Rule 3.8 regarding a prosecutor's duty to make known to the defense the existence of exculpatory evidence.
The VSB’s Committee on Lawyer Discipline has reopened the comment period – now due April 8 – on proposed, now-updated amendments to Paragraph 13 regarding lawyer discipline.
The Virginia State Bar Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board seeks comment – due May 1 – on proposed amendments to the MCLE regulations that seek to implement recommendations from the Supreme Court of Virginia’s report on lawyer well-being.
Bar Council Election Candidates & New Members Announced
There will be contested elections in circuits 1 (Chesapeake), 13 (Richmond), 17 (Arlington), and 20 (Loudoun, Fauquier, Rappahannock). Learn more about the candidates, make sure you receive your ballot, and see the lawyers who will represent the remaining circuits beginning July 1.
Artificial intelligence. Blockchain. Cryptocurrencies. Virginia lawyers struggling to understand how these forces might shape their practices have a new resource in the Special Committee on the Future of Law Practice’s final 2019 report – released this month.
Professional Regulation
Recent disciplinary actions
- Cherie Anne Washburn, license revoked, effective March 19, 2019.
- Alexander Maxwell Ace, license revoked, effective April 1, 2019.
- Gary L. Lumsden, license revoked, effective April 1, 2019.
- Andrew Ira Becker, license suspended, effective March 6, 2019.
- John James Good Jr., license suspended, effective March 13, 2019.
- Edward Emad Moawad, license suspended, effective March 22, 2019.
- Harry Tun, license suspended, effective March 28, 2019.
- Anthony George Spencer, public reprimand, March 12, 2019.
- Jason Alexander Atkins, public reprimand, March 25, 2019.
The VSB Disciplinary Board continued the hearing on the Reinstatement Petition for Ann Bridgeforth Tribbey of Midlothian to June 28, 2019.
Pro Bono
The 2019 Regional Pro Bono Summit is a free event that takes place on April 26 in Lynchburg with 4.0 hours of CLE credit. Speakers featured at this event are Crista Gantz, Henry Woodward, Jonathan Davies, and Palma Pustilnik, with U.S. District Judge Norman Moon as the luncheon speaker. This event is presented by Virginia Legal Aid Society, Liberty University School of Law, and the Lynchburg Bar Association.
Opportunities, Awards & Events
Last chance: Register for the TECHSHOW on April 8 today! The event at the Greater Richmond Convention Center is approved for 7 hours of CLE, with up to 5 possible in Ethics.
The Diversity Conference and Young Lawyers Conference’s Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Pre-Law Institute is July 7-12 in Richmond! Applications from high school students interested in the legal profession are due April 12.
The Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations’ Bar Leaders Institute on April 12 will feature the Hon. Roger L. Gregory, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as keynote speaker. This event is open to any current or aspiring bar leaders.
Register now for a seat at one of the webcast locations for the Leroy Rountree Hassell Sr. Indigent Criminal Defense Seminar on May 3.
Please plan on attending the Annual Meeting in June. Registration will open in April, and lawyers from across the state will meet to learn, network, and celebrate. There’s still time to nominate for the General Practice Section’s Tradition of Excellence award, the Diversity Conference’s Dunnaville Achievement Award, and the Conference of Local and Specialty Bars’ many awards – all presented at the meeting.
Updated: Apr 03, 2019