Monday, September 18, 2023

Part 1. Richmond Casino Wishes will Fail because of its overwhelming Corruption

 Richmond's Overwhelmed Corruption Cannot Support the Responsibility of a Casino

Author Brace Impact, September 18, 2023


Urban One Inc.’s $562 million Casino project in Richmond, Virginia has huge stakes for its referendum approval on November 2, 2023. 
Urban One Inc.’s project is claiming to bring in around 1,350 permanent jobs. Along with supporting people with employment, it estimates that it will make $30 million in annual tax revenue for Richmond as well as $16 million in charitable contributions over the next decade. 

Dangling the "carrot in front of the donkey" is Alfred Liggins, Urban One’s CEO, stating “Our proposal is unparalleled and can not be matched, “We would be creating the only black-owned casino in the United States of America. Perhaps more importantly, our project will be very diverse and inclusive.” So because it would be black owned means that his Casino would not be prone to violent crimes, theft, loan sharking, narcotics distribution, prostitution, and theft? 

                      URBAN ONE ALFRED LIGGINS

Despite Liggins boasting that the Casino would create 1350 new jobs earning at least $15 an hour. Common sense dictates that with Casinos comes organized crime and violence, the RPD is overwhelmed now, what happens after the Casino is operating and citizens turn to loan sharks for gambling money, narcotics distribution, prostitution, and fraud? 

A Casino in Richmond, who cannot control its corruption, would increase crime and the burden on its failing court system. In Richmond, the statistics prove that justice goes to the highest bidder, would a lower class citizen get the same justice as a well dressed attorney from a major law firm or a businessman who makes political contributions, absolutely not!

Whenever there is enormous revenue, corruption goes hand in hand, especially when corrupt judges, law firms and public officials are involved. History has taught us that these are the major concerns, especially in a city with high violent crime, deteriorating public schools, and lack of housing for lower to medium class citizens and out of control corruption. 

Council President Mike Jones, who represents the 9th District said “We're going to hear dog whistle...Crime this, crime that. Those are just dog whistles," said “Please stop speaking on behalf of Southside residents, they are grown.” 

                         RVA COUNCILMAN MIKE JONES

Elected officials like Mike Jones with his eyes on gold quickly dismisses Richmond's highest violent crime rate ever and Richmond's inability to employ police officers and its failed support of the Richmond Police Department. Exactly what is Councilman Mike Jones justification, that "grown southside residents" don't commit violent crimes? 

The turmoil in Richmond's Justice system is no stranger to corruption as justice is sold to its highest bidder. Richard Cullen's McGuireWoods Shadow Government has poisoned the three branches of Virginia's Government putting a stranglehold on the Constitution. Richard Cullen positioned himself as the Chief legal advisor to Governor Glenn Youngkin, Cullen wears the proud title of the "Godfather of the Virginia Shadow Government."


Richard Cullen controls the Virginia Justice system, especially in  Richmond and surrounding counties of Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and New Kent. Richard Cullen has strategically placed his judicial pawns in the Circuit Courts, Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court as to obtain favorable decisions for him and his criminal syndicate.

The Virginia senate elects Judges based on their corruption level and not on integrity, Richard Cullen's Shadow Government wants Judges who are players and not those who abide by their sworn oath and the Judicial Canons of Virginia, history has proven this over a period of twenty-five years. 

Judge Willian Reilly Marchant, Chief Judge of the Richmond Circuit Court was handed the Casino referendum case and had issued an order clearing the way for a Richmond casino referendum to appear on ballots this November, despite Richmond citizens strongly opposing it last year. 


What has changed over the past year to give the Casino another chance at the ballots in November, higher bribes and political favors, of course! With a $562 million project and yearly income of over $100 million at stake, payoffs to judges and public officials just got more expensive.

Under Chief Judge Marchant, the Richmond Circuit Court operates under anarchy, evidence of retired judges presiding over highly controversial cases, without an order from the Circuit court or the Supreme court designating them and giving authority to hear cases and issuing orders are common. The Supreme Court is investigating judges who conspired with retired judges and lawyers to commit treason by usurping the authority of the Virginia Supreme Court and the Virginia General assembly.

How can Richmond justify having a Casino that will surely bring a variety of serious felonies to the area which will be covered up by Richmond Commonwealth Attorney Colette McEachin. Colette McEachin has proven her history of corruption by refusing to disqualify herself and refer criminal complaints filed with her office naming her associates conspiring to treason, bribery, and fraud.


McEachin was obligated to disqualify herself and appoint a special prosecutor and have the Virginia State Police investigate the criminal complaints, instead McEachin buried the criminal complaints to protect her political friends.

By its history of corruption, Richmond does not deserve a Casino until it gives the citizens evidence of it cleansing itself of the cancer of corruption.

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Richmond Circuit Court Administrator Obstructs Justice in Treason Case

 RVA Circuit Court Administrator Colludes with Judges who committed Treason against the Supreme Court of Virginia




A complaint has been filed with the Supreme Court of Virginia (SCV) and the Richmond Commonwealth Attorney Colette McEachin, naming Virginia E. Bray, Esq., Staff Attorney/Court Administrator for 13th Judicial Circuit Court for the City of Richmond. Virginia Bray has been accused of violating: 

Va. Code § 18.2-460. Obstructing justice; A. If any person without just cause knowingly obstructs a judge, magistrate, justice, juror, attorney for the Commonwealth, witness, any law-enforcement officer, or animal control officer employed pursuant to § 3.2-6555 in the performance of his duties. 

On August 29, 2023, a complaint had been previously filed with Richmond Commonwealth Attorney Colette McEachin instructing her to forward the complaint to the Virginia State Police for investigation as McEachin was obligated to disqualify herself as she and the accused have close personal relationships and would impair her ability to act without prejudice.


The complaint filed with McEachin contained the August 21, 2023,  complaint filed with the SCV providing evidence of the violations of Virginia Codes which are felonies. The accused are listed as:

Judge Daniel T. Balfour (Retired)
Robert L. Freed, Freed and Sheppard P.C.
Julie S. Palmer, (VSB No. 65800) Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, P.C.
Michael E. Harman, (VSB No.16813) Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, P.C.



Judge Jacqueline McClenney, Richmond Circuit Court Judge
Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland, Richmond Circuit Court Judge


Between July 24 and September 15, 2023, Virginia Bray obstructed justice by hijacking an August 15, 2023, complaint and failing to report to Chief Judge William Marchant the treasonous actions by Judge McClenney and Judge Balfour, who usurped the SCV authority and held hearings without retired Judge Balfour being designated by the SCV. See https://virginiastatebarcorruption.blogspot.com/2023/08/virginia-supreme-court-investigating.html

Richmond Circuit Court and SCV records for Case Nos. CL23-2683 and CL21-4150 fail to show any orders by the SCV designating retired Judge Balfour to preside in the cases.

On August 15, 2023, a complaint was emailed to the Chief Judge William Marchant of the Richmond Circuit Court, notifying him of the highly irregular activity in Case Nos. CL23-2683 and CL21-4150, violating Virginia Codes and the Rules of the Virginia Code of Professional Conduct (VCPC) and the Judicial Canons of Virginia (Judicial Canons) by Judge McClenney, retired Judge Balfour, and attorney Robert L. Freed.


Virginia Bray intentionally withheld the complaint from Chief Judge William Marchant of the numerous violations in the Richmond Circuit Court. Va. Code § 17.1-501. Judges of circuit courts, B. The chief judge of the circuit shall ensure that the system of justice in his circuit operates smoothly and efficiently. 


Virginia Bray admitted in a letter dated August 15 that she intercepted and refused to give Chief Judge Marchant the complaint of the usurpation of authority by the three accused. Virginia Bray is also Judge McClenney's judicial clerk.  

Virginia Bray's violation of Va. Code § 18.2-460. Obstructing justice, also violates the Virginia Code of Professional Conduct Rule 8.3 Reporting Misconduct and 8.4 Misconduct.


Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Part 2. McCammon Group and Juridical Solutions provide "Justice" to the Highest Bidder

 McCammon Group and Juridical Solutions "Neutrals" have History of Corruption and Unethical Misconduct


The McCammon Group and Juridical Solutions is composed of retired judges and lawyers who offer Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) to litigating parties to mediate their differences outside the courts. 

The first problem is that these retired "neutrals" are not bound by the Judicial Canons and the Virginia Code of Professional Conduct (VCPC). Another problem is these neutrals are paid by the hour, ranging from $300-$800 per hour. One must think, in whose interest is the dispute resolution favor? The neutral of course, as he is getting paid by the hour, the longer it drags out, the better for them and costly for the parties, as they are paying their attorneys as well.

The McCammon Group and Juridical Solutions offer mediation and arbitration services, one might think they are the same but there is a difference yet either choice will end you back to the courts.

Juridical Solution states "Mediation and Arbitration are quite distinct procedures. Mediation is not binding upon the parties, but is a process where a Neutral Mediator works with the parties and their counsel in seeking to facilitate an agreeable resolution of the disputes between them. On the other hand, Arbitration is a process where the parties select a Neutral Arbitrator who will hear evidence presented by the parties, and then render a binding Arbitration Award. An Arbitration Award is essentially the same as a judgment by a Court of competent jurisdiction." 

Lets look at the last sentence "An Arbitration Award is essentially the same as a judgment by a Court of competent jurisdiction."
Wrong, it is not the same: 
  • a Court judgement can be appealed, challenged and enforced.
  • if the "Arbitration Award" is breached by either party or both, the parties will have to litigate in the Courts to settle the breach of award.
  • the "neutral" is the only one deciding the dispute, where as in a Court, a jury can decide the litigation.
Who would you take your chances with, a corrupt "neutral" who is paid by the hour, or a jury of your peers who are paid by the state?

Juridical Solutions states "Mediation is an alternative to a Courtroom trial where a Judge or Jury decides the outcome of your dispute.  The retired Judges of JS are neutral facilitators (mediators) who help you settle your  case on your termsCourt is public; mediation is private and confidentialCourt is formal and restricted to certain evidence; mediation is more wholistic."
  • a courtroom trial can be settled by the opposing parties at any time without having to pay a corrupt "neutral" by the hour.
  • a jury can decide the outcome, much better to put your faith in twelve peers than in the hands of a "retired" judge who is not bound by any codes or canons of professional conduct.
  • court hearings are a matter of record, so any evidence or statements made by witnesses can be used in the Appellate Court, where in mediation or arbitration is confidential.  

McCammon Group states "the hourly rate applies to all of the Neutral’s professional time. Generally, travel time will be billed at 50% of the hourly rate (100% for cases convened outside of VA/MD/DC). Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses such as hotels, tolls, third party conference call charges, etc. will be billed."
If the lawyer/law firm does not wish to be the responsible payer, it will be necessary for the party to establish and maintain a satisfactory retainer account with McCammon before any professional services may be rendered.

McCammon Group's hourly rate could cost the parties over $1500 per hour if you include "travel time, out-of-pocket expenses, hotels, call charges, etc." This is an open invitation to get scammed in a expensive way!

If we take a close look at a few of the "neutrals", many are facing ethics complaints and sanctions in the Appellate Courts for their unethical misconduct of violating Virginia and Federal Codes, the VCPC, and Judicial Canons of Virginia.

Juridical Solutions retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour is under investigation by the Supreme Court of Virginia for violating Va. Code § 18.2-481. Treason, which usurped the authority of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

McCammon Group's Michael E. Harman is facing numerous sanctions in the Appellate Court for Fraud on the Court, misconduct, and numerous violations of the Rules of the Virginia Code of Professional Conduct (VCPC), now faces class 4 felony charges for violating Va. Code § 18.2-447. When a person guilty of bribery. Michael E. Harman conspired with his associate Julie Palmer to bribe retired Judge Wilford Taylor, also a McCammon Group "neutral", and have ex parte communications as to vacate previous orders in Henrico County Circuit Court Cases CL21006572 and CL21005759. 

Judge Wilford Taylor was shamelessly forced to recuse himself from presiding over the hearings and the SCV was obligated to designate another Judge, who happen to be Juridical Solutions retired Judge Joseph J. Ellis.

Judge Joseph Ellis had conflicts of interest to preside over four cases in the Henrico Circuit Court involving ethics complaints against Richmond high profile attorneys. Judge Ellis close relationship with the Defendants and McGuire woods law firm, which he was a "neutral" in arbitration and mediation dispute resolutions.

A motion for Judge Ellis to recuse himself was filed several times, yet Judge Ellis refused to enter an order and violated several judicial canons by hearing the ethics complaints. With no surprise Judge Ellis dismissed the ethics complaints against the nine high profile Richmond attorneys, entering contradicting orders that violated the constitution, Virginia and Federal codes, and the rules of the VCPC.

Sunday, August 20, 2023

Virginia Supreme Court investigating lawyers and judges conducting illegal hearings

 Richmond Lawyer Robert L. Freed and Retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour Caught Illegally Conducting "Kangaroo" Hearings


On August 18, 2023, The Supreme Court of Virginia verified that retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour was not designated in two Richmond Circuit Court cases and had no authority to preside and enter orders. 

Robert Freed and Daniel Balfour have been close personal friends for decades and worked closely together before Balfour was appointed to a judgeship in 2004. Judge Balfour was a presiding judge in Henrico County Circuit Court from 2004-2012 when he retired.

The two cases are CL21-4150 Spanos v. Freed et al., and CL23-2683 Spanos v. Panos et al. which attorney Robert L. Freed is a defendant in both cases.

In Spanos v. Freed, Nickolas Spanos filed an ethics complaint against Robert Freed where he committed extrinsic fraud on the court by defective service and failed to serve Spanos, attempting to obtain a $1,350,000 judgment against Spanos in a defamation suit. Robert Freed knowingly failed to serve Spanos with the Complaint as per the Hague Service Treaty instead, he illegally mailed the court documents by U.S. Postal Service to an address in Greece. Freed and his associate Emily Kokie made false statements to the Richmond Court that Spanos was served despite recognizing that they never followed the mandatory procedures to serve foreign residents.

Freed and Kokie of Freed & Shepherd, P.C, are represented by Julie S. Palmer and Michael Harman of Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, P.C. Julie S. Palmer is currently the President of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys.

On February 17, 2022, Freed and retired Judge Daniel Balfour conspired to have retired Judge Balfour illegally preside over the case and enter an order dismissing the Complaint against Freed and Kokie. Retired Judge Balfour was required to be designated by either a Richmond Circuit Court Judge or by the Chief Justice of the SCV to be authorized to preside over any court hearings.

Spanos appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals of Virginia (CAV) Record Number 0706-22 and is currently pending oral arguments to be given. Spanos had filed for sanctions against Freed, Kokie, and their attorneys, Julie Palmer and Michael E. Harman, for fraud on the court and making false statements to the CAV. 


In a recent filing to the CAV, Spanos filed a Motion to Void the February 17, 2022, Order based on extrinsic fraud on the court by Freed and Judge Balfour, who conducted the "kangaroo hearing" without being designated by the Richmond Circuit Court or the Chief Justice of the SCV.

Spanos submitted the Supreme Court's investigation letter as evidence, which stated that no designation order existed for retired Judge Balfour to preside over CL21-4150 Spanos v. Freed et al. and CL23-2683 Spanos v. Panos et al.

Robert L. Freed and Daniel T. Balfour violated Va. Code § 18.2-481. Treason, which usurped the authority of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Virginia General Assembly and Va Code § 17.1-105. Designation of judges.



 

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Judge Daniel Balfour and lawyers have history of Treason by usurpation of authority

Criminal complaint to be filed with law enforcement authorities and the Supreme Court of Virginia for Judge Daniel Balfour, Judge Jacqueline McClenney, Robert L. Freed, Julie S. Palmer, and Michael Harman for violating Va. Code § 18.2-481. Treason. 

The accused conspired together to usurp the authority of the Supreme Court of Virginia and form their own "kangaroo" court to obtain favorable court decisions for their clients.

Richmond Circuit Court records for case no. CL21-4150 and CL23-2383, attorney Robert L. Freed is a Defendant for an ethics complaint and committing fraud on the court for conspiring with his clients to extort $100,000, from a defendant based on defective service. 

Attorney Julie S. Palmer and Michael Harman represented Robert Freed in the ethics complaint filed on September 17, 2021, which was dismissed on February 17, 2022, and is pending appeal in the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Retired Judge Daniel Balfour presided over the case but had no legal authority to do so, as the Richmond Circuit court judges never recused themselves from the case. SCV Chief Justice Goodwyn never entered a designation order giving authority to Judge Daniel Balfour to preside over the case.

Only the Chief Justice of the SCV has the authority under Va. Code § 17.1-105. to designate Judges if the current circuit court judges cannot preside. Va. Code § 17.1-105 states:

B. If all the judges of any court of record are so situated in respect to any case, civil or criminal, pending in their court as to render it improper, in their opinion, for them to preside at the trial, unless the cause or proceeding is removed, as provided by law, they shall enter the fact of record and the clerk of the court shall at once certify the same to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who shall designate a judge of some other court of record or a retired judge of any such court to preside at the trial of such case.

On July 24, 2023, Richmond Circuit Court records for CL23-2383 indicate Robert Freed is a co-defendant with his clients, conspiring together to extort $100,000 from a family member who was a foreign resident. They failed to serve him according to the Hague Service Treaty and obtained a default judgment without notifying him of any pending legal action.

Robert Freed, Julie S. Palmer, and Michael Harman, conspired with Judge Daniel T. Balfour and Judge Jacqueline McClenney to conduct a hearing without the Richmond Circuit court judges recusing themselves from the case and SCV Chief Justice Goodwyn not issuing an order designating Judge Balfour to preside over the case.

Richmond Circuit Court Judge Jacqueline McClenney was presiding over case no. CL23-2383 and had issued two orders, suddenly without any notice or recusal order, Judge McClenney failed to show up for the July 24, 2023 hearing, instead Judge Balfour unexpectedly and without authority usurped the Chief Justice's authority and presided over the case and dismissed the case against Robert Freed and his clients.

Court records show that the Petitioner filed a letter of recusal on July 17, 2023, and a Motion for Recusal of Judge McClenney for serious conflict of interest on July 21, 2023. Judge McClenney shocked by the Motion for Recusal hid from her judicial duties and failed to issue an order.



The complaint gives evidence of Robert Freed's close personal relationship with Judge Daniel Balfour spanning over a period of over thirty years. Robert Freed and Judge McClenney are also connected by a close personal relationship over twenty years. Freed, Balfour, and McClenney failed to disclose of their personal relations to the Court, violating Judicial Canon III, Canon 1. D. Recusal or Disqualification.


Friday, August 4, 2023

RVA Judges and High Profile Lawyers Caught in Treason Plot against the Supreme Court of Virginia

Richmond Circuit Court Judge McClenney and Judge Balfour Conspired with Corrupt Lawyers to illegally create their own Court System without the Supreme Court's Authority.

Richmond Circuit Court Judge Jacqueline McClenney and retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour conspired together to usurp the authority of SCV Chief Justice Samuel Bernard Goodwyn by conducting a hearing without SCV Chief Justice Goodwyn designating retired Judge Daniel Balfour to preside over a hearing on July 24, 2023.

The SCV is investigating the reason why Judge Balfour presided over the hearing without Chief Justice Goodwyn signing an order designating him to preside over the case. Further investigation into why the Richmond Circuit Court Judges did not preside over the hearing and why proper procedures were not followed in accordance with Va. Code § 17.1-105. Designation of judges to hold courts and assist other judges.

Va Code § 17.1-105. Designation of judges states:

B. If all the judges of any court of record are so situated in respect to any case, civil or criminal, pending in their court as to render it improper, in their opinion, for them to preside at the trial, unless the cause or proceeding is removed, as provided by law, they shall enter the fact of record and the clerk of the court shall at once certify the same to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who shall designate a judge of some other court of record or a retired judge of any such court to preside at the trial of such case.

Richmond Circuit Court Judicial Secretary Virginia Bray confirmed in emails that neither Judge McClenney nor the other Richmond Circuit Court judges signed an order recusing themselves. Court records indicate that no recusal order was signed and entered into the case file and that the SCV Chief Justice Goodwyn was never notified to designate a judge to preside over the case.

SCV and Richmond Court records show that Judge McClenney was scheduled to preside over the hearing but retired Judge Balfour just showed up in Court Room 307 and quickly presided over the hearing and illegally issued an order dismissing the controversial case and immediately left the court house.

On July 28, 2023, the Petitioner filed pleadings objecting to the illegal order which details evidence of Robert L. Freed and his counsel had conspired with Judge McClenney and Judge Balfour to violate Va. Code § 18.2-481. Treason, stating that the two judges and the opposing counsel; (1) Establishing, without authority of the legislature, any government within its limits separate from the existing government;(2) Holding or executing, in such usurped government, any office, or professing allegiance or fidelity to it; or (3) Resisting the execution of the laws under color of its authority.

The case (CL23-2683) involves several high profile lawyers who committed extrinsic fraud on the court and defrauded the Petitioner out of $100,000. The lawyers are listed as Robert L. Freed, Defendant, and his counsel Julie Palmer and Michael E. Harman of Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman, P.C.


Court records show that a serious conflict of interest was disclosed in emails to Judge McClenney and opposing counsel Julie Palmer and Mark Nanavati that their client Robert L. Freed has a long close personal relationship with Judge McClenney which was concealed from the Plaintiff and the Court.

Further Court records show that there was a serious conflict of interest between Judge McClenney and former Virginia Delegate George Manoli Loupassi, which a Letter of Recusal was sent to Judge McClenney on July 17, 2023 and a Motion to Recuse Judge McClenney was filed on July 21, 2023.

George Manoli Loupassi

In 2014, Richmond Delegate G. Manoli Loupassi, who chaired the House judicial selection subcommittee, endorsed and hard-pressed Judge McClenney’s appointment to the 13th Judicial Circuit. The highly controversial appointment of Judge McClenney and the removal of the Honourable Birdie Hairston Jamison created a media storm concerning how “anonymous” lawyers’ negative survey results about Judge Jamison’s policy of rejecting too many D.U.I. plea deals because of “high dollar lawyers” who represented DUI offenders.


                                             Honorable Birdie Hariston Jamison

The highly controversial removal of Judge Jamison and replacing her with Judge McClenney created a large media debate on why Judge McClenney was appointed to the 13th Judicial Circuit;

https://www.nbc12.com/story/30564637/richmond-traffic-judge-breaks-her-silence-talks-about-not-being-reappointed/

https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/ex-richmond-judge-defends-record-criticizes-judicial-re-election-process/article_14d5a4c2-1e13-526a-9c2d-33c7442f56fd.html

https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2014/dec/19/judge-defends-record/

https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2015/jan/22/general-assembly-ousts-jamison-welcomes-mcclenney/

https://www.facebook.com/NBC12News/videos/1105608196116947/

Judge McClenney’s allegiance to Loupassi and other high-profile defendants in Petitioner’s ethics complaint to vindicate exposing the existing criminal syndicate operating in the Virginia justice system. Furthermore, the appointment of Judge McClenney for the 13th Judicial Circuit was decided on who is a cooperative “player” in the judicial system, as alleged by the news media in the attached articles detailing the statements of the Honorable Jamison and other known political individuals. 

Loupassi and other high profile lawyers have ethics complaints filed in the Court Of Appeals and face having their law license suspended or revoked for operating a "white nationalism" syndicate where they protected affluent professionals involved in a 600- kilo cocaine organization that operated in Richmond for over ten years.

https://virginiastatebarcorruption.blogspot.com/2023/05/high-profile-richmond-attorneys-face.html





Monday, July 10, 2023

Part 1. Exposing Virginia Judicial Corruption Syndicates

 Judicial Mediation Services exposed as corrupt judges/attorney networks sold to the highest bidder




Judicial corruption has been organized into a new modus operandi with the formation of mediation services by "neutrals,” retired judges, and experienced attorneys independently contracted by companies to give an alternative to courts. These mediation services are a syndicate of corruption, organizing judges and attorneys to receive bribes in exchange for favorable decisions.

The popular term used by these companies is called Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR), described as "assisting litigants or would-be litigants in resolving disputes without the cost, time, publicity and delay that may be encountered in going to Court and litigating a case through trial and possible appeals." 

On the surface, it sounds honest, efficient, and time management. Still, when we closely examine who are the "neutrals" and their history, it’s like biting into a poisonous apple, as the term "neutral" is contradictory to their services. It’s a matter of the highest bidder who gets the favorable decision.

But any decision made is not a court order, not binding on either party and if no settlement is reached, the parties are back to step one, the courts. Most importantly, the mediation is confidential and is prohibited from being used in the courts.

We will look at two of the most popular Judicial Mediation Services; 
The McCammon Group
and 
Juridical Solutions PLC

Both mediation services charge by the hour, ranging from $300 to $500 per hour; add in the attorney cost for each party, and this Alternate Dispute Resolution would cost two litigants well over $1200 per hour. As all parties are getting paid by the hour, it would not behoove the attorneys and the "neutrals" for an early settlement. 

Another trap in this judicial syndicate is that the mediation services are not a court of law. Thus the judges are not obligated to the Canons of Judicial Conduct for the State of Virginia. They can break the rules and not be held responsible. 

It is questionable if the attorneys can be held responsible for violating the Rules of the Virginia Code of Professional Conduct, as the mediation is confidential.

One would ask, what is the advantage of using mediation services? None for the litigants; imagine spending tens of thousands on unbinding, corrupt, and confidential mediation services. If one party is not agreeable, you are back in the courts anyway but have wasted time, money, and effort for nothing but frustration for the litigants.

The only ones who come out winners are the attorneys and judges who mediate these services, which is another scam for the litigant!