SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA CHIEF .JUSTICE CLERK PATR.ClA L. HARRINGTON DONALD W, LEMONS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY .JUSTICES KARL R. HADE S. BERNARD GOODWYN L.EROY F. MILlEiTE~ JR. WILLIAM C. MIMS ELIZABETH A. McCLANAHAN CLEO E. POWELL D. ARTHUR KELSEY CHIEF STAFF ATTORNEY K. LORRAlNE LORD REPORTER OF DECISIONS KENT SINCLAIR SENIOR .JUSTICES SUPREME COURT BUILDING CHARLES S. RUSSELL ELIZABETH e, LACY LAWRENCE L. KOONTZ.. JR. STATE I..AW I.IBRARIAN GAIL. WARREN 23219 804-786-2251 RICHMOND, VIRGINIA Supreme Court of Virginia Press Release Media Contact: Release Date: Patricia L. Harrington, Clerk March 3, 2015 COMMENTS OF CHIEF JUSTICE DONALD W. LEMONS UPON RELEASE OF THE REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL DISCOVERY RULES At the direction of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia, a special committee on criminal discovery rules was appointed. The committee was chaired by The Honorable Thomas D. Horne, retired judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit. The committee was representative of diverse interests including prosecutors, criminal defense lawyers, law enforcement officials, academics, clerks, victims' advocates,judges and members of both the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia. Over an II-month period in 2014, the committee considered proposed changes to the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, as well as recommended amendments to the Code of Virginia concerning discovery procedures for criminal cases in the courts of the Commonwealth. The committee delivered its report to the Supreme Court of Virginia on December 2,2014. The Court appreciates the leadership of Judge Horne and the thorough consideration of many complex issues by the committee. Today the report is released to the public for commentary. The Supreme Court of Virginia neither endorses nor rejects any of the recommendations of the committee at this time. Comments on the proposed rules must be received by June 30, 2015, and must be forwarded to: Patricia L. Harrington, Clerk Supreme Court of Virginia 100 North Ninth Street, 5th Floor Richmond, VA 23219 OR via email with the subject line, "Comment on Criminal Discovery Rules" to: [email protected]