Appellate Law

Odds and ends: Flashing signs and W&L on its alums being reversed for failing to recuse themselves

By S. COTUS

• As we covered here, the First, in Nasar Jewelers, Inc. v. City of Concord, 2008 WL 162521 (C.A. 1 N.H. 1/18/2008), said that the city could ban flashing electronic signs. Law of the Land Comments and posts some briefs.
• Just in case you think a judge hates you, think about how bad a judge would have to be in Virginia to get the courts to reverse on a ?failure to recuse? theory.  Judge Charles D. Griffith, according to the Virginia Supreme Court, was quite obnoxious (even trying to prevent revoke the defendant?s lawyer?s court-appointment, despite the fact the lawyer was privately retained, insulting the lawyer, refusing to even accept or reject a proposed plea agreement, and trying to have the case specially assigned to him).  Virginia Lawyer?s Weekly explains why he probably won?t be reappointed, and the Virginia Supreme Court?s decision in Wilson v. Commonwealth is here, and the VA Court of Appeals decision is here.  For another story about his Griffith, when he was a prosecutor, helped put servicemen in jail that shouldn?t be there based on false confessions, see here.

So, two questions:

1. Doesn?t Liberty University feel the least bit ashamed by  selecting Griffith as a Moot Court judge?

2. Griffith is an alum of Washington and Lee University School of Law. I can only assume that the dean of that school, Rodney Smolla, supports and endorses his behavior, because he has not renounced it, and Griffith is still listed as a valuable resource for W&L students wishing to network.

Full post as published by Appellate Law and Practice on January 26, 2008 (boomark / email).