Fourth Circuit requires writ of habeas corpus in Richmond murder case

In Lee v. Clarke, the Fourth Circuit in an opinion by Judge Gregory, joined by Judges Motz and Wynn, reversed the denial of the petitioner's claim for a writ of habeas corpus, concluding that that he was denied effective assistance of counsel by his lawyer's failure to request a "heat of passion" jury instruction in his murder case, which was tried in the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond in 2008.

Yelp wins in the Fourth Circuit

In Westlake Legal Group v. Yelp, Inc., the Fourth Circuit in an unpublished per curiam opinion for the panel of Judges Shedd, Floyd, and Thacker held that claims under Virginia law against the popular consumer review website Yelp were barred by section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.