News and Updates   

The Virginia Board of Bar Examiners today announced the names of 175 individuals who passed the February 2025 bar exam.

Of those, 138 became attorneys today. An additional 37 have yet to complete all requirements to become licensed practitioners.

F. Claiborne “Jay” Johnston Jr., who served as president of The Virginia Bar Association in 1990, died March 31 in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was 82.

Mr. Johnston was a lifelong resident of Richmond and practiced his entire career with Mays & Valentine and its successor, Troutman Sanders, now Troutman Pepper Locke LLP. His practice was primarily in the field of business law, with an emphasis on corporate and securities law and financial institution regulation.

VBA President Kimberlee Harris Ramsey announces the following statement, approved unanimously by the Board of Governors:

The Virginia Bar Association strongly supports the Rule of Law.

Judge Junius P. Fulton III of the Virginia Court of Appeals is the apparent choice of the General Assembly for a pending seat on the Supreme Court of Virginia.

The combined Senate and House of Delegates Courts of Justice committees have scheduled judicial interviews for tomorrow, April 1, at 3 p.m. Fulton is the only candidate listed as interviewing for the position.

The Rule of Law Project was the brainchild of 2008 VBA President G. Michael Pace Jr., who died last year. Originally a project just of the VBA, it later gained the support of the Virginia Law Foundation. Pace eventually co-founded and headed the Center for Teaching the Rule of Law based at Roanoke College, with the project as its flagship program.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed 12 bills on the VBA legislative agenda into law by his action deadline of midnight March 24.
The governor also vetoed two bills on the VBA agenda. One was recommended by the VBA Real Estate Section and the other by the Virginia Family Law Coalition.

Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn has announced that he will step down from the court at the end of this year. The VBA’s Committee on Nominations to Virginia Commissions & Appellate Courts reviewed applications last week.

To be chosen, each Fellow must exhibit integrity and character, uphold the highest professional standards, be an outstanding community member and distinguished in the practice of law. They are nominated confidentially by their peers.

The VBA Appellate Practice Section adds value with a newsletter for member practitioners.

Each of these members today received an email alerting them that the latest issue of On Appeal - written and edited by their peers - is available to members of this section.

Richard E. Garriott Jr., who served as VBA president in 2019, will receive the Family Law Service Award next month at a family law seminar in greater Richmond.
The honor is given by the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section. It recognizes someone who has consistently "provided valuable services in advancing family, domestic relations or juvenile law in Virginia."