It’s 2022 and Time for an Expungement

It’s 2022 and Time for an Expungement

In Virginia, you are eligible to petition the court to have your record expunged if: You were found not guilty and acquitted of the charges The charges against you were dismissed The Commonwealth withdrew the charges against you and they were nolle prossed You received a pardon from the Governor Someone else committed a crime…

Virginia’s New Record Sealing Law Has Delayed Effect Until October 2025

Virginia’s New Record Sealing Law Has Delayed Effect Until October 2025

The Virginia General Assembly passed a new record sealing law, which will allow for the automatic sealing of some misdemeanor convictions as well as a petition-based system for lower level felony convictions. However, this law does not go into effect until 2025. The existing expungement laws remain unchanged. If you are looking for assistance with…

2021 Legislative Update from LeCruise Law – New Virginia Criminal Laws Go into Effect July 1, 2021

2021 Legislative Update from LeCruise Law – New Virginia Criminal Laws Go into Effect July 1, 2021

The following legislation has been approved by the Virginia General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Northam. The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) has published very useful summaries of the new criminal laws and here are the most important changes going into effect. Bail Admission to Bail: Eliminates the rebuttable presumptions against being admitted…

Norfolk Defense Attorney Jamilah D. LeCruise Named 2021 Influential Woman of Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Norfolk Defense Attorney Jamilah D. LeCruise Named 2021 Influential Woman of Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly

This June, Virginia Lawyers Weekly announced its 2021 class of “Influential Women of Law” and Norfolk defense attorney, Jamilah LeCruise, was among the women included. The program recognizes women lawyers and judges for their contributions to the justice system, tireless efforts on behalf of their clients, commitment to community service, and service to the legal…

New Virginia Marijuana Laws Effective July 1, 2021 Legalize Simple Possession with Certain Restrictions

New Virginia Marijuana Laws Effective July 1, 2021 Legalize Simple Possession with Certain Restrictions

Effective July 1, it will be legal for adults 21 years and older to possess no more than one ounce of marijuana for personal use. It will still be illegal to possess more than one ounce of marijuana. A person possessing more than one ounce but less than one pound of marijuana will be subject…

Norfolk Criminal Defense Attorney Named 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Star

Norfolk Criminal Defense Attorney Named 2021 Super Lawyers Rising Star

Attorney Jamilah D. LeCruise was selected again this year as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2021, which is the fifth consecutive year that she has been selected. Last year, there was a two-page feature about her legal career in the magazine. After being nominated, Super Lawyers engage in in-depth independent research and evaluate candidates…

Change to Virginia Robbery Code Going Into Effect in 2021

Change to Virginia Robbery Code Going Into Effect in 2021

Currently, under the Code of Virginia, “if any person commit robbery by partial strangulation, or suffocation, or striking, or beating, or by other violence to the person, or by assault or otherwise putting a person in fear of serious bodily harm, or by the threat or presenting of firearms, or other deadly weapon or instrumentality…

Changes to Getting Bond in Virginia Criminal Courts are Coming Soon

Changes to Getting Bond in Virginia Criminal Courts are Coming Soon

During the most recent legislative session, the Virginia General Assembly passed a variety of criminal justice reforms. One significant change implemented was in the area of bail and bond. Specifically, the General Assembly repealed the long-standing presumption against bond that existed for many criminal offenses. In practice, this meant that magistrates were not permitted to…