No Judge who is corrupt, who condones corruption in others, can possibly remains on the Bench.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Delegate Phil Hamilton should immediately resign his House of Delegates seat.


Ranking GOP leaders formally requested an ethics investigation into the actions of Newport News Republican Del. Phillip Hamilton on Monday in the face of growing outcry about the influential legislator's $40,000-a-year job at Old Dominion University.
House Speaker William J. Howell called for a state inquiry the same day that Democrats Creigh Deeds and Jody Wagner - candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively - said Hamilton should immediately resign his House of Delegates seat.
Later Monday, Republicans Bob McDonnell, who is running for governor, and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling issued similar statements indicating that it seems best for Hamilton to resign, given the circumstances.
Late Monday night, Hamilton continued to resist calls for his resignation, and he voiced his support for an ethics panel to examine his actions.
Last week, ODU released e-mails showing that Hamilton secured $500,000 a year in state funding for ODU's Center for Teacher Quality and Educational Leadership while asking for a job for himself. He and university leaders agreed last week to end his employment.
In a statement, Howell said, "It is important to me and the citizens in whose name all delegates serve to know whether Delegate Hamilton's activities in this matter were legal and in keeping with expected standards of conduct for lawmakers." Howell, a Stafford County Republican, also noted in the statement that other House leaders support that position.
Virginia's conflict-of-interest law bars lawmakers from accepting money for services performed within the scope of their legislative duties. Violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Any formal request for an ethics inquiry of a state delegate triggers a review by a five-member House ethics advisory panel, which can forward its findings to the attorney general for possible prosecution. Ordinarily, such reviews are confidential.
House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong, D-Henry, urged Republican leaders to have a committee of legislators conduct a public investigation instead.
Full Story here

The Role of the Guardian Ad Litem

F E A T U R E S F A M I L Y L A W
The Role of the Guardian Ad Litem
in Custody Cases
by Cheshire I’Anson Eveleigh and Mona S. Flax

As family law practitioners who try custody cases, we found inconsistencies in the role of guardians ad litem after interviewing family law practitioners throughout the Commonwealth and in other jurisdictions.
This was not a scientific sampling, but an overview to illustrate the need for standardization
of the gaurdian’s role.
The role of the guardian differs greatly across the Commonwealth. This article is
designed to address issues facing guardians as they struggle with defining their role and to make our suggestions on how the role of the guardian can be better defined.
The court recognizes guardians ad litem as officers of the courtand expects all to adhere to the standards set forth above. Thecourt reserves the right to remove and/or suspend guardians fromthe list as appropriate and will take into account the guidelinesand guardian’s compliance therewith in making such decisions.
1 - Appointment of the Guardian Ad Litem
2 - The Pre-interview and Interview Processing
3 - The Home Visit
4 - Interview of Collateral Sources
5 - The Requirement of a Written Report
6 - The Necessity for Written Standards
7 - General Guardian Ad Litem Standards
8 - Enforcement of the Guardian Ad Litem Guidelines
9 - The Court’s Role
10-Guidelines and Standards from Outside the Commonwealth
11-Conclusion