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Contentious proposal to let Court of Appeals dispose of some cases without oral argument set aside for more study
Summary
A proposal to give the Virginia Court of Appeals discretion to decide appeals without oral argument prompted lengthy debate over access to oral argument and appellate delay. The Senate committee took the bill "by" (postponed) after testimony from industry and court representatives and a request for more time to consider alternatives.
A broadly scoped bill that would (1) make appellate courts' award of attorney fees discretionary in certain criminal appeals, (2) adjust appeal-bond interest periods, and (3 — most controversially) give the Virginia Court of Appeals discretion to decide some appeals without oral argument was taken "by" (postponed) by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee for further study.
Committee members engaged in lengthy debate over the third component, which patrons argued was needed to reduce a growing backlog at the Court of Appeals since jurisdiction expansion. The patron described the proposal as aligned with practice in many appellate courts and said the court has asked for discretion to dispose of cases without oral argument so panels can clear dockets and prioritize merits-based oral…
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