Featured Posts
How Your AI Chats Can Be Used Against You
A recent federal court ruling sends a clear warning to anyone who has discussed legal matters with an AI tool like ChatGPT or Claude: your chats are potentially discoverable by a court, a government agency, or an opposing party in a lawsuit. I. A Case That Made Legal History In February 2026, a federal… Read More »
Sacred Spaces, Scattered Statutes: Understanding Virginia’s Fragmented Church Law Part One
By Robert Showers, Esq., with Justin Coleman, Esq., and William R. Thetford, Esq.* In this Article, the Authors have outlined portions of Virginia statutes, case law, and tax code that are most relevant to churches seeking to become more informed about their relationship with the law. The Authors intend this Article to make legislators,… Read More »
Church and Nonprofit Cybersecurity: What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You
Robert Showers, Esq. and Micah Schachtner, Esq. In line with nearly all modern industries, nonprofits increasingly employ digital technology and online tools to expand their operational capabilities. But unlike larger corporations with more risk awareness and legal jeopardy, many nonprofits apply few security measures to their data storage and transactions. This common failure to… Read More »
Recent Posts
What is the Drug-Free Zone Around Virginia Public Schools?
The drug-free zone around Virginia public schools is the same drug-free zone that applies to daycare centers, school buses/stops, public recreation facilities, community centers, and other protected places. The drug-free zone is usually 1,000 feet around the protected place. In many states, a drug offense in a protected place is an enhancement. But in… Read More »
A Closer Look at Reckless Driving in Parking Lots
Many people don’t expect to see “reckless driving” and “parking lot” in the same sentence. That’s probably why Section 46.2-864 of the Virginia Code specifically addresses such conduct. Pedestrians in parking lots aren’t looking out for reckless drivers. Additionally, reckless driving in a parking lot endangers property, mostly the other parked cars in the… Read More »
What to Expect in a Weapons Possession Case
Until the early 2020s, Virginia had some of the least restrictive gun control laws in the country. As of 2026, the Old Dominion has some of the toughest gun control laws in the country. These laws include both more prohibition and stiffer penalties. Law enforcement agencies have stepped up enforcement as well. “Go forth… Read More »
How a Prior DUI Affects You
Prior DUI convictions are always admissible for sentencing purposes, unless those prior convictions are expunged. A prior DUI conviction, no matter how old, gives prosecutors an edge during the plea negotiations that resolve most criminal cases. A prior criminal record is one of the primary factors in sentencing hearings. More importantly for purposes of… Read More »
Outcry Over Virginia Mosque Attack
Community groups demand that authorities upgrade charges against a man accused of a November 2025 attack against a local Muslim community center. The mosque says the same man has staged multiple attacks against Muslims. Surveillance video footage from the Dal al Nur Community Center in Fairfax shows the man berating women as they leave… Read More »
A Closer Look at Reckless Driving in Virginia
Reckless driving, which is more serious than a regular traffic ticket in most states, is especially serious in Virginia. In many cases, a simple speeding ticket in Maryland or D.C. is a criminal offense in Virginia, with severe short- and long-term consequences. Therefore, understanding how Virginia defines reckless driving, the penalties involved, and what… Read More »
Legislature Green-Lights Forensic Evidence Review
Officials will be conducting an extensive review of cases that may have involved biased or incompetent forensic work. Christina Barnes Arrington, senior methodologist with the commission, said in a presentation last week that the review panel’s members will evaluate the accuracy of Ms. Burton’s testing, analysis and testimony to determine — if possible —… Read More »
Will Your License Get Suspended for a DUI Arrest in Virginia?
Yes, in most cases, your license will get suspended following a DUI arrest in Virginia, frequently because of breath test refusal. Although drivers have a right to refuse to provide a chemical sample, since Virginia is an implied consent state, withdrawing that consent has consequences. Much more commonly, the ALS process also applies to… Read More »
How to Hire a DUI Lawyer in Virginia
Hiring a DUI lawyer in Virginia may seem as simple as Googling a phrase like “DUI lawyer near me” and going from there. This method is effective for some, especially since Virginia has one of the highest number of lawyers per capita in the country. But given the severe direct and collateral consequences of… Read More »
Defending Protective Order Applications in Virginia
Restraining order (protective orders) protects Virginians in protected classes from people who have threatened them, hurt them, or otherwise caused reasonable fear of harm. Husband-wife is the most common protected class in Virginia. Most other domestic and intimate relationships are protected as well. Usually, applicants file protective order applications after police make a domestic… Read More »
