THIS WEEK’S APPELLATE DEVELOPMENTS

(Posted January 12, 2023) The printing presses at Ninth and Franklin are quiet again this week, so let’s check on a couple of new matters.

Three SGs to speak in Richmond

Please don’t suspect me of shilling for ticket sales when I tell you about next Thursday’s Marshall Scholar series lecture featuring three former Solicitors General of the United States. It’s at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. The topic of the lecture should be of interest to all caring Americans: The State of the Supreme Court. I’m not shilling because the event is sold out.

Personally, I regard this sellout as an appellate victory. Many, maybe even most, Americans can name the Attorney General, but precious few of them can name the current Solicitor or even explain what she does. (Alas, the current SG, Elizabeth Prelogar, won’t be there unless she’s already scored a ticket.)

January SCV session

The Robes convened a micro-session this week, gathering to hear two oral arguments on Tuesday and two more yesterday. The four appeals’ audio recordings are up on the court’s website, if you’d like to listen in. Indeed, you can take in the entire session in just two hours and 20 minutes. The justices will next gather for writ panels on February 15, and for the March session two weeks after that.

The January session always coincides with the beginning of each regular General Assembly session – the second Wednesday of the year. This enables the justices to attend the State of the Commonwealth address, a ceremony that I’ve long revered. Oh, it has its disadvantages – primarily the numerous and obligatory standing ovations that must be hard on attendees who don’t have my current advantage of two cobalt-steel knees. But I love the low-level pageantry, and the knowledge that our governors have been delivering this report since the dawn of the Commonwealth.

In case you’re wondering, I watched it on a computer screen. Bigwigs get invited; midwigs like me have to settle for a remote feed.