My review of the VGA website shows that SJ 51, the indigent defense study bill now amended to just study a statewide appellate defender office (like they have in Michigan) passed the Virginia Senate today! I spoke with Senator Dance’s Chief of Staff, Ed Reed (Thanks to you Ed for your tremendous help on this) and it has passed the state senate on a voice vote! (Reading was waived 40-0 which I assume means this bill had no opposition. I am learning much about the legislative process.)
it is now going to the House of Delegates and it has been assigned to the House Rules Committee. House Rules is chaired by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, William J. Howell.
If you want to contact House Rules, go here;
2016 SESSION
House Rules
MEMBERSHIP
Howell (Chairman), Landes, Cox, Kilgore, Ware, Jones, Orrock, Knight, Ingram, Massie, Habeeb, Plum, Toscano, Spruill, Carr
MEETS
Friday, On the Call of the Speaker, Speaker’s Conference Room
So some Friday, I might get to perhaps speak before House Rules on how this bill will push the ball forward so that the promise of Gideon will be available for all Virginians.
Here is the status of the bill so far:
FULL TEXT
- 01/06/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101475D pdf
- 02/05/16 Senate: Committee substitute printed 16105258D-S1 pdf
HISTORY
- 01/06/16 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101475D
- 01/06/16 Senate: Referred to Committee on Rules
- 02/05/16 Senate: Reported from Rules with substitute by voice vote
- 02/05/16 Senate: Committee substitute printed 16105258D-S1
- 02/08/16 Senate: Reading waived (40-Y 0-N)
- 02/09/16 Senate: Read second time
- 02/09/16 Senate: Reading of substitute waived
- 02/09/16 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 16105258D-S1
- 02/09/16 Senate: Engrossed by Senate – committee substitute SJ51S1
- 02/10/16 Senate: Read third time and agreed to by Senate by voice vote
- 02/12/16 House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/12/16 House: Referred to Committee on Rules
About Elwood Sanders
Elwood "Sandy" Sanders is a Hanover attorney who is an Appellate Procedure Consultant for Lantagne Legal Printing and has written ten scholarly legal articles. Sandy was also Virginia's first Appellate Defender and also helped bring curling in VA! (None of these titles imply any endorsement of Sanders’ views)
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