Juli Porto

Cridler-Smith v. Clarke, Record No. 230450 (Va. Jan. 16, 2025)

The Supreme Court of Virginia reverses and remands a significant ineffective assistance of counsel case in one of the three opinions it issues today. More

Commonwealth v. Holland, Record No. 230907 (Va. Jan. 16, 2025)

The Supreme Court of Virginia releases three opinions today. This opinion provides important guidance on the proper standard for reviewing plea withdrawal denials and reaffirms the significant discretion given to trial courts in these matters. More

Al-Saray v. Furr, Record No. 230488 (Va. Jan. 16, 2025)

The Supreme Court of Virginia issues three opinions today. In this one, it reverses the Court of Appeals’ reversal of a $7,000,000 verdict. More

Bon Secours-DePaul Med. Ctr., Inc. v. Rogakos-Russell, Record No. 230879 (Va. Jan. 2, 2025)

In its first opinion of the year, the Supreme Court of Virginia rejects multiple challenges to a $2 million medical malpractice verdict. More

OT: I have a wicked talented sister.

No new opinions come out of the Supreme Court of Virginia this Thursday, so I’m going off-topic today to brag about my sister. More

Baez v. Commonwealth, Record No. 230899 (Va. Dec. 19, 2024)

The Supreme Court determines the admissibility of an officer’s body-worn camera footage. More

Commonwealth v. Carolino, Record No. 230945 (Va. Dec. 12, 2024)

The Supreme Court of Virginia reverses the Court of Appeals sitting en banc due to appellant’s failure to preserve an issue for appeal. More

Josephson v. Commonwealth, Record No. 230856 (Va. Dec. 12, 2024)

The Supreme Court of Virginia applies the fugitive disentitlement doctrine. More

Assignments of Error

No new opinions or orders are handed down from the Supreme Court of Virginia today, so I wanted to share a helpful blog post from a fellow appellate attorney.More

Johnson-Bey v. Commonwealth, Record No. 230619 (Va. Nov. 27, 2024)

Since the Supreme Court of Virginia’s regular Thursday opinion day falls on Thanksgiving, it issues a published opinion and order today. The opinion, discussed in this post, addresses the temporal reach of Virginia’s 2021 sentencing reform legislation and clarifies when new statutory limits on suspended sentences apply to existing cases. More