Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Virginia Supreme Court grants appeals in three civil commitment cases

In this statement, the Attorney General's office announced its determination to seek the civil commitment of Derek Lamont McCloud as a sexually violent predator. A year later, as shown here, the Virginia Supreme Court has decided to hear the assignments of error and cross-error in the case, including the Commonwealth's issue of the trial court "erred by accepting Dr. Miller as an expert witness."

In this press release, the Attorney General's office announced it would seek the civil commitment of Richard Bryan Allen. The Supreme Court has granted the Commonwealth's petition for appeal in the Allen case, where an issue is whether the trial court "erred by permitting the testimony of Allen's expert witness."

In this statement, the Attorney General's office announced it would seek civil commitment of Lorenzo Townes. The Supreme Court has granted an appeal in the Townes case.

Evidently, the Court will use these cases to express its views on the law and procedure under the civil commitment statute, including the use of expert testimony.

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