The Board of Managers of the Vermont Bar Association has adopted the following statement: The Vermont Bar Association (VBA) honors its mission: [To] promote[] the highest standards of skill, ethics and professionalism within an inclusive legal profession; foster[] understanding and respect for the rule of law; support[] equal access to a fair and effective system…
DetailsThe Vermont Bar Association congratulates Sheilagh Smith, Esq. of Chelsea, Vermont, as the 2025 winner of the VBA’s Pro Bono Service Award The Pro Bono Award is given annually by the VBA’s Board of Bar Managers to an attorney who provides extraordinary legal services to indigent and disadvantaged clients in our community. Smith was nominated…
DetailsThis just in from the judiciary: Certified Restricted Delivery Charges to Increase on March 3 Actual postage costs have significantly outpaced the rates charged by the Vermont Judiciary over the past several years. In keeping with the actual costs of U.S. postage, the amount charged by the Judiciary for mail service of pleadings via certified…
DetailsVermont’s superior court judges serve six-year terms and are then subject to a judicial retention process. The Joint Committee on Judicial Retention oversees the process. After various hearings and meetings, the Committee provides its recommendations on retention to both chambers in a joint assembly where the vote is taken by secret ballot. There are eight…
DetailsEach year, a committee comprised of representatives from the VBA staff, the VBA Diversity Section, and the VBA Young Lawyers Division, chooses a quotation by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to inspire Vermont’s middle school students to participate in a Poster-Essay Contest. This year’s quotation was, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t…
DetailsThree attorney members have seats on the Judicial Nominating Board, including an At-large Seat, a Northern Seat and a Southern Seat. The three seats came open for election at the end of last year. The deadline for submitting ballots was Jan. 13, 2024. Today, the Judiciary announced the results of the election. The following people…
DetailsNominations are now open for candidates for VBA’s Annual Pro Bono Service Award. The Award is given each year to one or more attorneys who have devoted themselves in a noteworthy way to provide pro bono legal services to the poor and disadvantaged. Standards for the award reflect Rule 6.1 of the Vermont Rules of…
DetailsIn November of last year, Gov. Phil Scott announced the appointment of four new Vermont Superior Court Judges. The new judges are Bonnie Badgewick of Woodstock, Dana DiSano of South Burlington, Timothy Doherty of Burlington, and Laura Rowntree of South Burlington. Rowntree and DiSano, both formerly Assistant Attorneys General, were sworn in by Vermont Supreme…
DetailsWith the recent addition of four new judges to Vermont’s superior court bench, the judiciary has amended its judicial assignments for the current term. (Sept. 3, 2024 to Sept. 1, 2025). The new assignments will be effective beginning Feb. 11. To see the memo regarding the updates, click here.
The VBA’s legal research partner, Fastcase, upgraded its platform this winter. In 2023, Fastcase merged with vLex, a global leader in legal intelligence and with the merger a new suite of services has arrived. The new platform went live in Vermont on Dec. 5. It has a new appearance and new functionality. With change comes…
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