2:00PM
Hotel Roanoke
Council Members Present
Officers:
LaBravia J. Jenkins (Fredericksburg), Chairman
Eric L. Olsen (Stafford County), First Vice Chairman
Patricia T. Watson (Greensville Co./Emporia), Second Vice Chairman
Roy F. Evans (Smyth County), Secretary
Nancy G. Parr (Chesapeake), Past Chairman
Council District Representatives:
1. James P. Fisher (Fauquier County)
3. Michael N. Herring (Richmond)
4. Theresa J. Royall (Nottoway)
5. Denise Lunsford (Albemarle County)
6. Donald S. Caldwell (Roanoke City)
7. Shannon L. Taylor (Henrico County)
8. Theo K. Stamos (Arlington County/Falls Church)
9. Christian E. Rehak (Radford)
10. Marc H. Abrams (Winchester)
Other Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Present
Joel R. Branscom (Botetourt County)
Paul B. Ebert (Prince William County)
E. M. Wright (Buckingham County)
Michael R. Doucette (Lynchburg)
Nathan R. Green (Williamsburg/James City County)
Holly Smith (Gloucester County)
Cassandra S. Conover (Petersburg)
Gregory D. Underwood (Norfolk)
C. Phillips Ferguson (Suffolk)
William B. Bray (Colonial Heights)
Jeffrey W. Haislip (Fluvanna County)
James R. Ennis (Prince Edward County)
John C. Singleton (Bath County)
Bryan L. Porter (Alexandria)
Gerald D. Arrington (Buchanan County)
Nicole M. Price (Washington County)
James E. Plowman (Loudoun County)
Ross P. Spicer (Frederick County)
Eric Cooke (Southampton County)
Georgette Phillips (Isle of Wight)
Rusty McGuire (Louisa County)
Nora Miller (Mecklenburg County)
Anton Bell (Hampton)
Lyndia Ramsey (Sussex County)
Ed Stein (Alleghany County)
Billy Davenport (Chesterfield County)
Trip Chalkley (Hanover County)
Rick Newman (Hopewell)
Mike Newman (Danville)
Pat Scales (Cumberland County)
Michael Abbott (Wise County)
Matt Kite (King William County)
Vince Donoghue (Essex County)
Bryan Haskins (Pittsylvania County)
Tom Bowen (Salem)
Ray Robertson (Staunton)
Incoming Commonwealth’s Attorneys
John Mahoney (Caroline County)
Michael Lee Dennis (Tazewell County)
H. Fuller Cridlin (Lee County)
Chuck Slemp (Wise County)
Derek Davis (Surry County)
Paul Walther (Culpeper County)
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorneys
Betty Jo Anthony (Roanoke City)
Nate Griffith (Pittsylvania County)
Jim Willett (Prince William County)
Chris Bullard (Richmond City)
Rupen Shah (Augusta County)
Guests
Jack Ritchie – CICF
CASC Staff Present
Jane Sherman Chambers
Shannon Weist
Call to Order
Ms. Jenkins called the meeting to order at 2:13 p.m.
Minutes
The draft minutes from the November 4, 2015, meeting were previously posted and circulated to Council. The minutes were approved as submitted.
Chairman’s Report
None.
Administrator’s Report
Ms. Chambers reported that the newly revamped Homicide Program and the inaugural Virginia Criminal Procedure 101 programs were held in November in Williamsburg. Both went very well and CASC has received a lot of positive feedback.
Old Business
Executive Program Update
Ms. Weist reported that 133 people registered for the 2015 Executive Program. A total of 8.5 CLE’s (1 Ethics) are being offered. Additionally, a 2-hour Legislative Watch Boot Camp will be held on Friday from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. The informal dinner organized by Don Caldwell is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on December 3. Ms. Weist expressed her appreciation for the efforts of Mr. Caldwell and his staff in helping organize this year’s events. Ms. Weist reported that case management vendors are available outside the meeting space to talk to anyone interested in a new case management system. Finally, Ms. Weist explained that program evaluations will be emailed to everyone – there will no longer be paper evaluation forms. She asked for everyone’s cooperation and assistance with filling out their evaluation forms.
Change to CASC Constitution & By-laws – Commonwealth Attorney Training Fund (Fund)
Ms. Jenkins reported that copies of proposed Constitution & By-laws changes were circulated to members more than 10 days before the meeting. She noted that the required 2/3 of Council members were present at the meeting.
Ms. Jenkins explained that Council previously had voted to refer to the Fund as the Donald S. Caldwell Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Training Fund in an effort to recognize Mr. Caldwell’s extraordinary efforts in establishing this funding source. The proposed amendment to the Constitution & By-laws merely formalizes this name change, although it does not affect the statutory language of the Fund. Ms. Chambers explained that the remaining proposed changes to the Constitution & By-laws clarify the mechanisms for accessing and utilizing the Fund. A motion was made and seconded to change the Constitution & By-laws as proposed. The motion passed unanimously.
New Business
Change to Constitution & By-laws – Teleconferencing at CASC Meetings
Moving on the next proposed change to the Constitution & By-laws, which also was circulated more than 10 days in advance of the meeting, Ms. Jenkins explained that the proposed change would allow Council members to attend up to two meetings per year via Skype (or similar teleconferencing technology) as allowed by statute. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed to make this change to the Constitution & By-laws.
Non-prosecutor Attendance at CASC Training Events
Ms. Chambers reported that she has received a request to allow former prosecutors to attend CASC training events after they have moved on to other government service. After much discussion, it was decided to leave in place the current policy that allows attendance by Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorneys and assistants, attorneys from the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia Criminal Division, Virginia law enforcement attorneys, attorneys from DFS and attorneys from DLS.
Adjournment
There being no further business before Council, the meeting adjourned at 2:33 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting is January 26, 2016, 11:00 a.m., at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Richmond.