Browse Virginia Supreme Court's 2025 caseload. 27 opinions with AI-powered summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
No-Knock Warrant Lacked Probable Cause, Evidence Suppressed
Doe v. Green, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on November 26, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute involved whether a "no-knock" warrant was supported by sufficient probable c...
Court Affirms Defamation Ruling for Defendant
Knudsen v. Taylor (ORDER), decided by Virginia Supreme Court on November 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Knudsen, sued the defendant, Taylor, for defamation. Knudsen alle...
Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Burglary Conviction, Upholds Impeachment Evidence
Commonwealth v. Jackson, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on November 20, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia reviewed a defendant's conviction for statutory burg...
Zoning ordinance restricting agricultural use not a taking
Ticonderoga Farms, LLC v. Knop, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on November 6, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved Ticonderoga Farms' challenge to a zoning ordinance...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Wrongful Termination Claim
Brooks-Buck v. Wahlstrom, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on October 16, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute in Brooks-Buck v. Wahlstrom involved a former employee's claim of...
Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Attorney Disbarment for Misconduct
Pollack v. Virginia State Bar, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on October 16, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the Bar's decision to disbar attorney Pol...
Statements Admitted After Invoking Counsel Not Voluntary
Orndoff v. Commonwealth, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on September 25, 2025, resulted in a reversed outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia considered whether a defendant's statements made during ...
Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Burglary Conviction, Upholds Impeachment Evidence
Commonwealth v. Hubbard, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on September 11, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia reviewed a defendant's conviction for statutory bur...
Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Attorney Disbarment for Dishonesty
Swango v. Virginia State Bar, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on July 31, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the State Bar's decision to disbar attorney S...
Virginia Court Rules Use and Occupancy Agreement is a Lease
Toll Road Investors Partnership II v. SCC, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on July 17, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether a "use and occupancy" agreement...
Va. Supreme Court Upholds Conviction Based on Child Victim Exception
Commonwealth v. Kartozia, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on June 5, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia reviewed a defendant's conviction for indecent liberties...
Appellate court allows evidence from warrantless vehicle search
Commonwealth v. Paxton, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on May 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Commonwealth of Virginia appealed a trial court's suppression of evidence obtained f...
Landowner's 'No Trespass' Notice Insufficient to Bar NRA Firearms Training
Under Wild Skies v. NRA, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on May 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Virginia Supreme Court considered whether a "no-trespass" notice posted by a landow...
Virginia environmental board cannot block federal railroad construction
Norfolk Southern Railway Co. v. SCC, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on May 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether Norfolk Southern Railway Company's (NS...
Court Enforces Settlement Agreement in Divorce Case
Lisann v. Lisann, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on May 8, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The case concerns a dispute over the interpretation of a settlement agreement in a divorce proc...
Court Upholds Student's Right to Wear Religious Head Covering
Newport News School Board v. Z.M., a Minor, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on May 8, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Newport News School Board appealed a lower court's ruling that gr...
Pretextual traffic stops are lawful if probable cause exists for a violation.
Shaw v. Commonwealth, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia considered whether a defendant's conviction for driving un...
Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Warrantless Vehicle Search
Commonwealth v. Canales, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia affirmed the trial court's decision, holding that the d...
Prior bad acts evidence admissible if relevant and properly instructed
Poulson v. Commonwealth, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia considered whether a defendant's due process rights wer...
Former employee's wrongful termination and defamation claims against medical practice dismissed.
Eye Consultants of Northern Virginia P.C. v. Shaw-McDonald, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved a former employee's claim...
Virginia Court: "No Guests" Lease Clause Unenforceable
Harris v. Howard, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on April 3, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute in Harris v. Howard concerned whether a landlord could evict a tenant for vi...
WVALDC denied transmission line permit; court affirms SCC decision
WVALDC v. State Corporation Commission, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on March 27, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The West Virginia Development Corporation (WVALDC) challenged the Stat...
Court Upholds SCC Approval of Appalachian Power Settlement
WVALDC v. State Corporation Commission, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on March 27, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The West Virginia Development Council (WVALDC) challenged the State Co...
Firing gun into occupied home proves malice for aggravated wounding
Welsh v. Commonwealth, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on March 20, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia considered whether a defendant's "unusual and unnatural" ...
Appeals court finds VEC regulation invalid, allows Amazon to seek withdrawal
Amazon Logistics, Inc. v. Virginia Employment Commission, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on March 6, 2025, resulted in a mixed outcome. The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) denied Amazon's requ...
VA Supreme Court Reverses Burglary Conviction Over Flawed Jury Instructions
Commonwealth v. Wilkerson, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on February 20, 2025, resulted in a reversed outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia reviewed a defendant's conviction for statutory burglar...
Va. Supreme Court: Intoxication doesn't automatically invalidate confession
Cappe v. Commonwealth, decided by Virginia Supreme Court on February 13, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Supreme Court of Virginia considered whether a defendant's confession, made afte...
CaseLawBrief tracks 27 opinions from Virginia Supreme Court in 2025. This includes published and unpublished decisions.
The most common legal topics were: Fourth Amendment Search And Seizure (4 cases), Probable Cause (3 cases), Virginia Rules Of Evidence Rule 609(A)(1)(B) (2 cases), Impeachment By Evidence Of Criminal Conviction (2 cases), Probative Value Vs. Prejudicial Effect (2 cases).
Outcomes: Plaintiff Win: 5, Defendant Win: 19, Reversed: 2, Mixed: 1.