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Judge won't try Black man in courtroom with white portraits by Matthew Barakat, The Associated Press Posted Dec 22, 2020 5:38 pm EDT Last Updated Dec 22, 2020 at 5:44 pm EDT FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A Black defendant’s right to a fair trial would be harmed if the jury heard the case in a courtroom lined with portraits of white jurists, a northern Virginia judge has ruled. The upcoming trial of Terrance Shipp on charges of eluding police will be held in a courtroom that has no portraits on the wall, said Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge David Bernhard. Bernhard noted that his usual courtroom ...

Va. judge rules Black defendant can’t get a fair trial in courtroom largely featuring portraits of White judges Justin Jouvenal A Fairfax County judge has ruled that a Black defendant can’t get a fair trial in a courtroom decorated overwhelmingly with portraits of White judges and has ordered the paintings to be removed for the man’s upcoming legal proceeding. Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge David Bernhard wrote in an opinion issued late Monday that the portraits of past judges from the Fairfax County Circuit Court could create the impression that the court is bi...

Virginia prosecutor formally ends cash bail, joining growing movement Justin Jouvenal, The Washington Post Dec. 21, 2020 FacebookTwitterEmail Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano, a Democrat, speaks at a news conference Oct. 15, 2020.Washington Post photo by Tom Jackman Fairfax County, Va.'s top prosecutor formally announced Monday that his office would no longer seek cash bail, saying it exacerbates inequalities between the rich and poor in the criminal justice system. The announcement codifies what had been the general practice of Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano since...

Skip to main content Currently Reading Judge in Virginia rules Black defendant can't get a fair trial in courtroom largely featuring portraits of White judges Justin Jouvenal, The Washington Post Dec. 22, 2020 FacebookTwitterEmail 3 1of3In 2013, then-defense attorney David Bernhard questions a witness during a murder trial. A portrait of a judge is seen behind him.Washington Post photo by Nikki Kahn.Show MoreShow Less 2of3During a 2013 trial, defense attorney Alberto Salvado, left, and Casey Lingan, chief deputy of the Commonwealth's Attorney Fairfax County Judicial Center, confe...

Fairfax County prosecutor formally ends cash bail, joining a growing movement Justin Jouvenal Fairfax County’s top prosecutor formally announced Monday that his office would no longer seek cash bail, saying it exacerbates inequalities between the rich and poor in the criminal justice system. Popular Searches The announcement codifies what had been the general practice of Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve T. Descano (D) since he took office in January after running on a platform of bringing major changes in Virginia’s largest county. Descano joins a growing number of ...