In September 2020, NACDL issued a statewide call to action encouraging members and the community to contact their legislators in support of SB 5007, a bill to allow a defendant to decide whether to be sentenced by a judge or a jury, except in capital cases. SB 5007 was a priority bill of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL) and partner organization, Justice Forward Virginia. At the conclusion of the special session, SB 5007 passed with a delayed enactment clause and went into effect July 1, 2021.
Jury Sentencing
NACDL worked with the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and other partners in Virginia to pass legislation repealing mandatory jury sentencing.
