Commentary
Are we up to reforming our civil system to help poor litigants?
Lately, we have all been horrified by the spectacle of toddlers and other children, separated from their parents at our southern border, appearing in court alone to face deportation. While our collective distaste is justified, the truth is that people of modest means, like these asylum seekers, have been shuffled through our court system unrepresented […]
Remember officials, when they’re about public business, your texts are public records
Thirty years ago, John Q. Public Servant had a report he had to produce for his boss, the county manager. He was tired and his kid was sick, so he left work a bit early to work on it at home. He sat down at the kitchen table after grabbing one of his kid’s leftover […]
Meet the Mercury: A new look at the Virginia Way
You’ve heard of the “Virginia Way.” For those inclined to consider it a cherished asset of the Old Dominion, the term conjures a tradition of restrained, courtly statesmanship and of high-minded legislating that puts principle over party and personality. At its best, they would argue, that approach to governing and lawmaking can produce breakthroughs […]
‘Fraudster preys on the poor:’ an all too familiar story
A recent headline from Lawyers Weekly (referencing a Richmond Times-Dispatch article) reads: Fraudster preyed on the poor. “A self-proclaimed credit consultant has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for ripping off debt-troubled customers in Chesterfield County,” the story says. As any legal-aid attorney will tell you, this is a familiar story. Fraudsters prey […]
For Republicans on the ballot, it’s tough to totally reject Trump
Much has been made of longtime respected Republicans calling for voting against their own party. Steve Schmidt, a lifelong GOP activist and the man who, as John McCain’s campaign manager in 2008, brought us Sarah Palin, recently resigned from the party and said he would support Democrats this fall. George Will, the conservative columnist who […]