11:00AM
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Richmond
Council Members Present
Officers:
Nancy G. Parr (Chesapeake), Chairman
LaBravia J. Jenkins (Fredericksburg), First Vice Chairman
Council District Representatives:
2. Colin D. Stolle (Virginia Beach)
3. Michael N. Herring (Richmond)
4. Theresa J. Royall (Nottoway)
6. Donald S. Caldwell (Roanoke City)
7. Shannon L. Taylor (Henrico County)
8. Bryan L. Porter (Alexandria)
Other Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Present
Ann Cabell Baskervill (Dinwiddie County)
Paul B. Ebert (Prince William County)
Michael R. Doucette (Lynchburg)
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Present
Elliott Casey (Albemarle County)
Lori DiGiosia (Stafford County)
Cathy Black (Williamsburg/James City County)
CASC Staff Present
Jane Sherman Chambers
Larry Martin
Shannon Weist
John Bowers
Call to Order
Ms. Parr called the meeting to order at 11:04 a.m.
Minutes
The draft minutes from the December 4, 2014, meeting were previously posted and circulated to Council. The minutes were approved as submitted.
Chairman’s Report
Waived.
Administrator’s Report
Waived.
Old Business
Abbott Lab Settlement Update
Donald Caldwell explained that bills are pending before the General Assembly to establish a Commonwealth’s Attorneys Training Fund with the proceeds from the Abbott Lab settlement. SB1360 carried by Senator Norment is on the Senate Courts’ docket tomorrow. HB2222 has passed through House Appropriations and is on its way to the floor. Both bills have been conformed and are exactly the same.
Spring Institute Update
Staff Attorney Shannon Weist reported that the Spring Institute agenda is now finalized. New additions to the training curriculum include a presentation on improving prosecution of campus sexual assaults to be held on Tuesday, March 24. 512 people have registered for the conference, including 58 people who have registered for the optional cigarette trafficking training presented by the National White Collar Crime Center and Altria on Wednesday, March 25. The room blocks at the Richmond Marriott and the overflow hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn, are now full. However, the Crowne Plaza, Embassy Suites, Commonwealth Park Suites and the Holiday Inn Express all have rooms available at the government rate and are within walking distance of the Richmond Marriott.
New part-time Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor – John Bowers
Ms. Chambers introduced John Bowers who was recently hired to fill CASC’s new part-time DMV grant-funded Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor position. He will be available to assist prosecutors across Virginia with research, technical and trial assistance in complex impaired driving cases. Ed Hibbard also will continue to serve as a Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor for CASC. Mr. Bowers recently retired from Spotsylvania County where he prosecuted all types of cases including serious traffic offenses.
The Council meeting was suspended by Ms. Parr between 11:30 and 12:00 noon to accommodate Secretary of Public Safety Brian Moran’s schedule. Secretary Moran was scheduled to address the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys at their meeting which was to follow the meeting of Council.
New Business
Spring Institute Vendor Fees
A motion was made and was seconded and passed unanimously to keep the charges for vendor fees at Spring Institute at $1,000.00.
Supreme Court Update – Annual Summer Conference
Ms. Chambers advised members that she has learned of a change of status regarding the speaker that had been selected to provide the Supreme Court Update at the Annual Summer Conference in August, 2015. Following discussion, a motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to select another speaker to give the presentation. Ms. Parr will write a letter accordingly.
Adjournment
There being no further business before Council, the meeting adjourned at 12:14 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting is February 19, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Capitol Rm. 2nd Floor, Richmond, Virginia.