September 9 Meeting Report

We had one of the best RBA Luncheon Meetings I can remember on Tuesday. Our featured speaker was Governor Holton, who was even better in person than in his excellent book. We also had the opportunity to honor the memory of Judge Coulter. The meeting was well attended (107 RSVPs), and was particularly well-attended by our judges.

Welcome New Member

At the September 10 board meeting, the application of new member D. Adam McKelvey was approved. Adam is with Crandall & Katt and we welcome him to the Association.

Proposed Dues Increase

At the Board of Directors meeting we are going to consider increases to dues and application fees for the Association. If approved, this will be the first such increase in 10 years.

Current Dues: $60 with email notifications; $75 with paper notifications

New proposed dues: $8o with email notifications; $95 with paper notifications

Application Fee: Old: $8; New proposed fee $25

Reinstatement Fee: Old $10, new $25.

Let me know your thoughts.

Roanoke as a Model for State School Accreditation

Our new member (and former Patrick Henry High teacher) Hank Bostwick, with co-writer Sarah Geddes, has written a Roanoke Times editorial addressing school accreditation tied to graduation rates. Take a look.

Interview with Bill Poff

Today's Roanoke Times has a profile of William B. Poff of Woods Rogers, this association's most recent Frank W. "Bo" Rogers Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and the "dean of Roanoke litigators." Mr. Poff's thoughts on firm loyalty and lawyer advertising are (in my opinion) particularly worth reading. Take a look at the online version even if you read this in print-- there are many additional quotes and audio clips not included in the print version.

Welcome New Members

At our Summer Meeting on August 1 the Board of the RBA approved the following new members:

Henry G. Bostwick II, Legal Aid Society of the Roanoke Valley. (Hank is a former member of the Patrick Henry High School faculty and one of the founders of the Star City Harbinger).

Patice L. Holland, WoodsRogers.

Kendra L. Roberson, LeClairRyan

Welcome.

Governor Holton

The Roanoke Times today has a strong piece on Governor A. Linwood Holton, who was, by any measure one of the bravest politicians of the latter half of the twentieth century. Governor Holton took a strong stand against "massive resistance" to school integration, and led the state by example, sending his own kids to integrated Richmond City schools. He revivified the Republican party in Virginia in the process. And he came to Roanoke to practice law for twenty years while launching his political career.

Governor Holton has written a memoir, Opportunity Time, which was published earlier this year.

We are very pleased to announce that Governor Holton will be the speaker at our bar year-opening meeting on September 9. Thanks to President-Elect Roy Creasy for securing a wonderful speaker. We anticipate having the Governor's book for sale at the meeting.

Governor Kaine's Appointment Conundrum

This is a a very interesting article by Professor Tobias from Richmond Law School. Professor Tobias says that the General Assembly has "indicated that they will not commit in advance to supporting [Governor] Kaine's judicial choices," and he suggests that the Governor look to temporary appointments (drawn from law schools and the senior bar members) for the SCC opening, the unfilled Circuit court openings and the Supreme Court opening.

I have yet to see any speculation about the pending appointments and Governor Kaine's possible candidacy for Vice-President. (He is "very very high on the VP shortlist" as of this writing.) One would think that such political considerations could have an effect on how the Governor handles these appointments.

The Oliver Hill House

Today's Roanoke Times covers the re-zoning approval of the Oliver Hill House at 401 Gilmer Avenue SW. Mr. Hill (as you probably know) is Roanoke's most famous and revered native, a pioneering lawyer and "Renaissance Man of the civil rights movement." The Oliver White Hill Foundation purchased the childhood home of Mr. Hill a few years ago. The rezoned house (as the Times article explains) will contain a legal aid center, overseen by a new Washington and Lee graduate and staffed by law students. This Association is committed to help. Look for a bar luncheon program with foundation head Clarence M. Dunnaville, Jr., Esquire and W&L Dean Rod Smolla this fall.

If you want to know more before the fall contact W&L Assistant Dean Mary Z. Natkin.

Addendum: Right after typing this post I noticed that a new Capital Square monument featuring Mr. Hill was dedicated yesterday.

Facebook Picture Increases Sentence

Here's a story about a Providence RI drunk driving defendant who had some unfortunate photos posted on Facebook used against him in sentencing. In my civil practice, I am running across more and more twentysomethings who post pictures and blog entries that conflict with their testimony. A savvy attorney will keep an eye out for such evidence, and/or encourage their own clients to remove this sort of thing.