Old Dominion Bar Association
"Virginia's Advocates for Equal Justice"
"Virginia's Advocates for Equal Justice"
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Beverly A. Burton, Esq., President
with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in the
effort to monitor and correct voting irregularities in Virginia .
We will build on that legacy by addressing the restoration of
felons’ rights and participating meaningfully in the effort to
reverse the disenfranchisement of those who are not
permitted to participate fully in society after having paid their
debt to society. We will work diligently to ensure the judiciary
in Virginia continues to reflect the citizenry of Virginia .
The Old Dominion Bar Association will be undergoing
significant structural and administrative changes. As we
strive to improve, we must re-dedicate ourselves to our
mission:
To maintain and advance the honor and dignity of the
legal profession and to increase its effectiveness in
promoting and facilitating the proper administration of
justice;
To improve the professional competence of its members
and of other lawyers in the area through educational
means;
To promote reform in the law and in judicial procedure in
the interest of justice;
To uphold and elevate the standard of integrity, dignity,
honor and courtesy among the members of the legal
profession;
To establish and maintain cooperative efforts with the
Virginia State Bar, the National Bar Association, and other
voluntary associations comprised of members of the legal
profession;
To cultivate the support and fellowship among the
members.
The footprints we leave behind are important. It is my goal to
ensure that ours are made with purpose, direction and
meaning. Notwithstanding our legacy, the work continues. I
ask for your support in meeting the challenges I described
earlier as we forge ahead with renewed commitment to be
the best we can be as VIRGINIA ’S ADVOCATES FOR EQUAL
JUSTICE.
Sincerely,
Beverly A. Burton, Esq.
********************************************************************
PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONALISM
FOR VIRGINIA LAWYERS
PREAMBLE
Virginia can take special pride in the important role its
lawyers have played in American history. From Thomas
Jefferson to Oliver Hill, Virginia lawyers have epitomized our
profession's highest ideals. Without losing sight of what
lawyers do for their clients and for the public, lawyers should
also focus on how they perform their duties. In their very first
professional act, all Virginia lawyers pledge to demean
themselves "professionally and courteously." Lawyers help
their clients, the institutions with which they deal and
themselves when they treat everyone with respect and
courtesy. These Principles of Professionalism serve as a
reminder of how Virginia lawyers have acted in the past, and
should act in the future.
PRINCIPLES
In my conduct toward everyone with whom I deal, I should:
• Remember that I am part of a self-governing profession,
and that my actions and demeanor reflect upon my
profession.
• Act at all times with professional integrity, so that others
will know that my word is my bond.
• Avoid all bigotry, discrimination, or prejudice.
• Treat everyone as I want to be treated with respect
and courtesy.
• Act as a mentor for less experienced lawyers, and as a
role model for future generations of lawyers.
• Contribute my skills, knowledge and influence in the
service of my community.
• Encourage those I supervise to act with the same
professionalism to which I aspire.
In my conduct toward my clients, I should:
• Act with diligence and dedication tempered with, but
never compromised by, my professional conduct toward
others.
• Act with respect and courtesy.
• Explain to clients that my courteous conduct toward
others does not reflect a lack of zeal in advancing their
interests, but rather is more likely to successfully advance
their interests.
In my conduct toward courts and other institutions with
which I deal, I should:
• Treat all judges and court personnel with respect and
courtesy.
• Be punctual in attending all court appearances and
other scheduled events.
• Avoid any conduct that offends the dignity or decorum of
any courts or other institutions, such as inappropriate
displays of emotion or unbecoming language directed at the
courts or any other participants.
• Explain to my clients that they should also act with
respect and courtesy when dealing with courts and other
institutions.
In my conduct toward opposing counsel, I should:
• Treat both opposing counsel and their staff with respect
and courtesy.
• Avoid ad hominem attacks, recognizing that in nearly
every situation opposing lawyers are simply serving their
clients as I am trying to serve my clients.
• Avoid reciprocating any unprofessional conduct by
opposing counsel, explaining to my clients that such behavior
harms rather than advances the clients' interests.
• Cooperate as much as possible on procedural and
logistical matters, so that the clients' and lawyers' efforts
can be directed toward the substance of disputes or
disagreements.
• Cooperate in scheduling any discovery, negotiations,
meetings, closings, hearings or other litigation or
transactional events, accommodating opposing counsels'
schedules whenever possible.
• Agree whenever possible to opposing counsels'
reasonable requests for extensions of time that are
consistent with my primary duties to advance my clients'
interests.
• Notify opposing counsel of any schedule changes as
soon as possible.
• Return telephone calls, e-mails and other
communications as promptly as I can, even if we disagree
about the subject matter of the communication, resolving to
disagree without being disagreeable.
• Be punctual in attending all scheduled events.
• Resist being affected by any ill feelings opposing clients
may have toward each other, remembering that any conflict
is between the clients and not between the lawyers.
For more news and events, please click here.
Beverly A. Burton, Esq., President
with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in the
effort to monitor and correct voting irregularities in Virginia .
We will build on that legacy by addressing the restoration of
felons’ rights and participating meaningfully in the effort to
reverse the disenfranchisement of those who are not
permitted to participate fully in society after having paid their
debt to society. We will work diligently to ensure the judiciary
in Virginia continues to reflect the citizenry of Virginia .
The Old Dominion Bar Association will be undergoing
significant structural and administrative changes. As we
strive to improve, we must re-dedicate ourselves to our
mission:
To maintain and advance the honor and dignity of the
legal profession and to increase its effectiveness in
promoting and facilitating the proper administration of
justice;
To improve the professional competence of its members
and of other lawyers in the area through educational
means;
To promote reform in the law and in judicial procedure in
the interest of justice;
To uphold and elevate the standard of integrity, dignity,
honor and courtesy among the members of the legal
profession;
To establish and maintain cooperative efforts with the
Virginia State Bar, the National Bar Association, and other
voluntary associations comprised of members of the legal
profession;
To cultivate the support and fellowship among the
members.
The footprints we leave behind are important. It is my goal to
ensure that ours are made with purpose, direction and
meaning. Notwithstanding our legacy, the work continues. I
ask for your support in meeting the challenges I described
earlier as we forge ahead with renewed commitment to be
the best we can be as VIRGINIA ’S ADVOCATES FOR EQUAL
JUSTICE.
Sincerely,
Beverly A. Burton, Esq.
********************************************************************
PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONALISM
FOR VIRGINIA LAWYERS
PREAMBLE
Virginia can take special pride in the important role its
lawyers have played in American history. From Thomas
Jefferson to Oliver Hill, Virginia lawyers have epitomized our
profession's highest ideals. Without losing sight of what
lawyers do for their clients and for the public, lawyers should
also focus on how they perform their duties. In their very first
professional act, all Virginia lawyers pledge to demean
themselves "professionally and courteously." Lawyers help
their clients, the institutions with which they deal and
themselves when they treat everyone with respect and
courtesy. These Principles of Professionalism serve as a
reminder of how Virginia lawyers have acted in the past, and
should act in the future.
PRINCIPLES
In my conduct toward everyone with whom I deal, I should:
• Remember that I am part of a self-governing profession,
and that my actions and demeanor reflect upon my
profession.
• Act at all times with professional integrity, so that others
will know that my word is my bond.
• Avoid all bigotry, discrimination, or prejudice.
• Treat everyone as I want to be treated with respect
and courtesy.
• Act as a mentor for less experienced lawyers, and as a
role model for future generations of lawyers.
• Contribute my skills, knowledge and influence in the
service of my community.
• Encourage those I supervise to act with the same
professionalism to which I aspire.
In my conduct toward my clients, I should:
• Act with diligence and dedication tempered with, but
never compromised by, my professional conduct toward
others.
• Act with respect and courtesy.
• Explain to clients that my courteous conduct toward
others does not reflect a lack of zeal in advancing their
interests, but rather is more likely to successfully advance
their interests.
In my conduct toward courts and other institutions with
which I deal, I should:
• Treat all judges and court personnel with respect and
courtesy.
• Be punctual in attending all court appearances and
other scheduled events.
• Avoid any conduct that offends the dignity or decorum of
any courts or other institutions, such as inappropriate
displays of emotion or unbecoming language directed at the
courts or any other participants.
• Explain to my clients that they should also act with
respect and courtesy when dealing with courts and other
institutions.
In my conduct toward opposing counsel, I should:
• Treat both opposing counsel and their staff with respect
and courtesy.
• Avoid ad hominem attacks, recognizing that in nearly
every situation opposing lawyers are simply serving their
clients as I am trying to serve my clients.
• Avoid reciprocating any unprofessional conduct by
opposing counsel, explaining to my clients that such behavior
harms rather than advances the clients' interests.
• Cooperate as much as possible on procedural and
logistical matters, so that the clients' and lawyers' efforts
can be directed toward the substance of disputes or
disagreements.
• Cooperate in scheduling any discovery, negotiations,
meetings, closings, hearings or other litigation or
transactional events, accommodating opposing counsels'
schedules whenever possible.
• Agree whenever possible to opposing counsels'
reasonable requests for extensions of time that are
consistent with my primary duties to advance my clients'
interests.
• Notify opposing counsel of any schedule changes as
soon as possible.
• Return telephone calls, e-mails and other
communications as promptly as I can, even if we disagree
about the subject matter of the communication, resolving to
disagree without being disagreeable.
• Be punctual in attending all scheduled events.
• Resist being affected by any ill feelings opposing clients
may have toward each other, remembering that any conflict
is between the clients and not between the lawyers.
For more news and events, please click here.
IN THE NEWS...
***************************************************
SAVE THE DATE!
Annual Meeting
May 20-23, 2010
Virginia Beach Sheraton Oceanfront
**************************************************
JANUARY 2010
YOUNG LAWYERS CONFERENCE DINNER
The Young Lawyers Conference of the Virginia
State Bar held its annual bench-bar dinner in
honor of newly appointed and elevated
minority and female members of the Virginia
judiciary on January 25, 2010 in Richmond.
Hon. Barbara Milano Keenan, a justice of the
Virginia Supreme Court and the keynote
speaker, noted in her remarks that “courts
should look like the people they serve”. The
honorees were Hon. Rossie D. Alston, Jr., Hon.
Michelle J. Atkins, Hon. Joel C. Cunningham,
Hon. Harriet D. Dorsey, Hon. Pamela O. Evans,
Hon. Mary Jane Hall, Hon. Tonya Henderson-
Stith, Hon. Bonnie L. Jones, Hon. Kenneth R.
Melvin, Hon. Deborah S. Roe, and Hon. Amy B.
Tisinger. ODBA President Beverly Burton
attended the dinner.
WINTER MEETING
ODBA held its Winter Meeting at the T.C.
Williams School of Law in Richmond on
January 23, 2010. Participants were treated
to excellent continuing legal education
presentations on constitutional law, Medicare
set-aside law for personal injury attorneys,
and avoiding problems in appellate practice.
The presenters were David P. Baugh, Esq.,
Kari Lou Frank, Esq., and Elwood “Sandy”
Saunders, Jr., Esq. Following remarks by
luncheon speaker Robert J. Grey, Jr., Esq. was
a roundtable discussion on diversity. The day’
s activities concluded with a relaxing
reception.
CHIEF DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL NAMED
Charles E. James, Jr. became Virginia’s Chief
Deputy Attorney General on January 19, 2010.
A litigation partner in the Williams Mullen law
firm immediately prior to his appointment, Mr.
James will oversee the day to day operation of
the five divisions of the Office of the Attorney
General. In addition, he served as a
prosecutor in the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the
Eastern District of Virginia and in the
Department of Justice’s Criminal Division in
Washington, D.C. Mr. James is listed in
Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars
magazine. Virginia Business magazine has
listed him as one of the “Legal Elite”.
DECEMBER 2009
FORMER ODBA VP DIES
Edward Delk passed away December 31,
2009, at Chesapeake Regional Medical
Center. Mr. Delk, a graduate of Howard
University School of Law, had a private law
practice in Norfolk until 1987. He was also a
real estate consultant and developer and had
an extensive community service record that
included a stint as executive director of the
Urban Coalition of Norfolk. He also served as
Chairman of the Norfolk Public School System’
s Community Oversight Committee, which was
charged with the responsibility of preventing
racial discrimination in the allocation of human
and physical resources of the school system.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley C. Delk, and
two sons. Mr. Delk was a former Vice
President of Old Dominion Bar Association.
FORMER ODBA PRESIDENT DIES
Past president Philip S. Walker died on
December 6, 2009. A funeral service was held
on December 11, 2009, at Carver Memorial
Presbyterian Church in Newport News. Mr.
Walker was a graduate of Virginia Union
University and earned his law degree from
Howard University. He was an NAACP attorney
and argued desegregation cases in the
1950's, one of which led to the desegregation
of Norfolk public schools. Mr. Walker was
president of ODBA from 1964-1966. Click here
for complete obituary.
SALES TO BE GOOCHLAND COUNTY ATTORNEY
Richmond City Attorney Norman B. Sales, who
recently announced his retirement for
personal reasons, will become Goochland
County Attorney effective January 18, 2010.
Sales is a graduate of Old Dominion University
and earned his law degree from the Marshall
Wythe School of Law at William & Mary. He
served as Richmond’s City Attorney for four
years.
HENDERSON-STITH APPOINTED TO HAMPTON
BENCH
Tonya Henderson-Stith was appointed to serve
on the Hampton General District Court in June
2009. She filled one of two vacancies in the
Hampton General District Court where Judge
Bonnie Jones served prior to her elevation to
the Hampton Circuit Court. Judge Henderson-
Stith, formerly an attorney with the law firm of
McDermott, Roe & Walter, is a 1990 University
of Virginia graduate and earned her law
degree from the University of Baltimore in
1994.
PHAM APPOINTED TO ADVISORY BOARD
ODBA member Tony Pham has been appointed
by Governor Timothy Kaine to serve on the
Virginia Asian Advisory Board. The Board
advises the Governor on issues affecting the
Asian Community.
NOVEMBER 2009
PHAM IS PRESIDENT OF APABA-VA
ODBA member Tony Pham assumed the
presidency of the Asian Pacific American Bar
Association of Virginia November 1, 2009.
Pham, an Assistant City Attorney for the City of
Richmond, was formerly a prosecutor in the
Richmond Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
APABA-VA is a state-wide bar association and
an affiliate of the National Asian Pacific
American Bar Association. Pham is a
graduate of the University of Richmond’s T.C.
Williams School of Law and will serve a one-
year term as APABA-VA’s president.
JAMES WINS HOUSE OF DELEGATES SEAT
Matthew James won the 80th district seat in
the House of Delegates in the election on
November 3, 2009. The seat was left vacant
when Kenneth Melvin, who held the seat for 24
years, was appointed to serve as a judge of
the Circuit Court for the City of Portsmouth.
Delegate James is married to ODBA member
Karen James, an Assistant City Attorney for
the City of Suffolk.
ODBA PARTICIPATES IN ELECTION
PROTECTION AGAIN
Several ODBA Executive Committee members
participated in the Election Protection project
during the November 3, 2009 election. Prior to
the election, these members participated in
preparatory conferences with organizers of
the effort, as well as in the recruiting and
training of volunteers. Beverly Burton and
Vinceretta Chiles worked on in the Richmond
Command Center on Election Day. Leonard
Brown represented ODBA in the Tidewater
area and Howard Woodson in northern
Virginia. Election Protection is a nationwide
non-partisan and continuing project of the
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under
Law. ODBA began its participation last year at
the urging of the National Bar Association, of
which ODBA is an affiliate. This was ODBA’s
second year of participation in this effort to
ensure that all who are entitled to vote get to
exercise that right.
***********************************************
***************************************************
SAVE THE DATE!
Annual Meeting
May 20-23, 2010
Virginia Beach Sheraton Oceanfront
**************************************************
JANUARY 2010
YOUNG LAWYERS CONFERENCE DINNER
The Young Lawyers Conference of the Virginia
State Bar held its annual bench-bar dinner in
honor of newly appointed and elevated
minority and female members of the Virginia
judiciary on January 25, 2010 in Richmond.
Hon. Barbara Milano Keenan, a justice of the
Virginia Supreme Court and the keynote
speaker, noted in her remarks that “courts
should look like the people they serve”. The
honorees were Hon. Rossie D. Alston, Jr., Hon.
Michelle J. Atkins, Hon. Joel C. Cunningham,
Hon. Harriet D. Dorsey, Hon. Pamela O. Evans,
Hon. Mary Jane Hall, Hon. Tonya Henderson-
Stith, Hon. Bonnie L. Jones, Hon. Kenneth R.
Melvin, Hon. Deborah S. Roe, and Hon. Amy B.
Tisinger. ODBA President Beverly Burton
attended the dinner.
WINTER MEETING
ODBA held its Winter Meeting at the T.C.
Williams School of Law in Richmond on
January 23, 2010. Participants were treated
to excellent continuing legal education
presentations on constitutional law, Medicare
set-aside law for personal injury attorneys,
and avoiding problems in appellate practice.
The presenters were David P. Baugh, Esq.,
Kari Lou Frank, Esq., and Elwood “Sandy”
Saunders, Jr., Esq. Following remarks by
luncheon speaker Robert J. Grey, Jr., Esq. was
a roundtable discussion on diversity. The day’
s activities concluded with a relaxing
reception.
CHIEF DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL NAMED
Charles E. James, Jr. became Virginia’s Chief
Deputy Attorney General on January 19, 2010.
A litigation partner in the Williams Mullen law
firm immediately prior to his appointment, Mr.
James will oversee the day to day operation of
the five divisions of the Office of the Attorney
General. In addition, he served as a
prosecutor in the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the
Eastern District of Virginia and in the
Department of Justice’s Criminal Division in
Washington, D.C. Mr. James is listed in
Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars
magazine. Virginia Business magazine has
listed him as one of the “Legal Elite”.
DECEMBER 2009
FORMER ODBA VP DIES
Edward Delk passed away December 31,
2009, at Chesapeake Regional Medical
Center. Mr. Delk, a graduate of Howard
University School of Law, had a private law
practice in Norfolk until 1987. He was also a
real estate consultant and developer and had
an extensive community service record that
included a stint as executive director of the
Urban Coalition of Norfolk. He also served as
Chairman of the Norfolk Public School System’
s Community Oversight Committee, which was
charged with the responsibility of preventing
racial discrimination in the allocation of human
and physical resources of the school system.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley C. Delk, and
two sons. Mr. Delk was a former Vice
President of Old Dominion Bar Association.
FORMER ODBA PRESIDENT DIES
Past president Philip S. Walker died on
December 6, 2009. A funeral service was held
on December 11, 2009, at Carver Memorial
Presbyterian Church in Newport News. Mr.
Walker was a graduate of Virginia Union
University and earned his law degree from
Howard University. He was an NAACP attorney
and argued desegregation cases in the
1950's, one of which led to the desegregation
of Norfolk public schools. Mr. Walker was
president of ODBA from 1964-1966. Click here
for complete obituary.
SALES TO BE GOOCHLAND COUNTY ATTORNEY
Richmond City Attorney Norman B. Sales, who
recently announced his retirement for
personal reasons, will become Goochland
County Attorney effective January 18, 2010.
Sales is a graduate of Old Dominion University
and earned his law degree from the Marshall
Wythe School of Law at William & Mary. He
served as Richmond’s City Attorney for four
years.
HENDERSON-STITH APPOINTED TO HAMPTON
BENCH
Tonya Henderson-Stith was appointed to serve
on the Hampton General District Court in June
2009. She filled one of two vacancies in the
Hampton General District Court where Judge
Bonnie Jones served prior to her elevation to
the Hampton Circuit Court. Judge Henderson-
Stith, formerly an attorney with the law firm of
McDermott, Roe & Walter, is a 1990 University
of Virginia graduate and earned her law
degree from the University of Baltimore in
1994.
PHAM APPOINTED TO ADVISORY BOARD
ODBA member Tony Pham has been appointed
by Governor Timothy Kaine to serve on the
Virginia Asian Advisory Board. The Board
advises the Governor on issues affecting the
Asian Community.
NOVEMBER 2009
PHAM IS PRESIDENT OF APABA-VA
ODBA member Tony Pham assumed the
presidency of the Asian Pacific American Bar
Association of Virginia November 1, 2009.
Pham, an Assistant City Attorney for the City of
Richmond, was formerly a prosecutor in the
Richmond Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.
APABA-VA is a state-wide bar association and
an affiliate of the National Asian Pacific
American Bar Association. Pham is a
graduate of the University of Richmond’s T.C.
Williams School of Law and will serve a one-
year term as APABA-VA’s president.
JAMES WINS HOUSE OF DELEGATES SEAT
Matthew James won the 80th district seat in
the House of Delegates in the election on
November 3, 2009. The seat was left vacant
when Kenneth Melvin, who held the seat for 24
years, was appointed to serve as a judge of
the Circuit Court for the City of Portsmouth.
Delegate James is married to ODBA member
Karen James, an Assistant City Attorney for
the City of Suffolk.
ODBA PARTICIPATES IN ELECTION
PROTECTION AGAIN
Several ODBA Executive Committee members
participated in the Election Protection project
during the November 3, 2009 election. Prior to
the election, these members participated in
preparatory conferences with organizers of
the effort, as well as in the recruiting and
training of volunteers. Beverly Burton and
Vinceretta Chiles worked on in the Richmond
Command Center on Election Day. Leonard
Brown represented ODBA in the Tidewater
area and Howard Woodson in northern
Virginia. Election Protection is a nationwide
non-partisan and continuing project of the
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under
Law. ODBA began its participation last year at
the urging of the National Bar Association, of
which ODBA is an affiliate. This was ODBA’s
second year of participation in this effort to
ensure that all who are entitled to vote get to
exercise that right.
***********************************************
 |  |  |  |  |  |
I am honored to serve as the Old
Dominion Bar Association’s 29th
President and look forward to
working with our membership to
address the challenges that
require the attention of
"Virginia's Advocates for Equal
Justice”.
Under my leadership, and with
your support, the Old Dominion
Bar Association will not rest
comfortably on the laurels of its
rich legacy. Instead, we will build
on that legacy by participating
meaningfully as a National Bar
Association Affiliate in partnership
Dominion Bar Association’s 29th
President and look forward to
working with our membership to
address the challenges that
require the attention of
"Virginia's Advocates for Equal
Justice”.
Under my leadership, and with
your support, the Old Dominion
Bar Association will not rest
comfortably on the laurels of its
rich legacy. Instead, we will build
on that legacy by participating
meaningfully as a National Bar
Association Affiliate in partnership