The Virginia House was right not to appoint 1st Gay Judge in 2012, CAV Case exposes Corruption in Governor's office

If hindsight was 20/20, eleven years ago the Virginia House of Delegates rejected the judicial nomination of a gay Richmond prosecutor, plunging the critical swing state into the middle of the national debate about the civil rights of gay Americans.

The prosecutor, Tracy Thorne-Begland, a former fighter pilot and Navy officer, failed to garner the majority of the 100-member House of Delegates that was required to secure the judgeship. Lawmakers in the House of Delegates voted 33 to 31 to support him, with 10 abstentions.

The highly controversial appointment of Judge Begland created an enormous media debate on why the “openly gay” Navy officer who violated the Navy’s policy and was dishonorably discharged from the Navy under the subsequent “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy should be a Virginia Judge.

Delegate Bob Marshall, a Republican from Prince William County, argued that those aspects of his biography meant that he would not be able to be impartial, and might even engage in activism, if he became a judge. Mr. Marshall, together with several fellow Republicans from his county, a number of them former military men, led the charge against Mr. Thorne-Begland.

“It’s about a pattern of behavior that is just notorious for homosexual advocacy,” Mr. Marshall said. He added that Mr. Thorne-Begland had misrepresented himself on his application for military service, joining the Navy despite the ban on homosexuals in service. “The fact that he defied his oath and could not have been candid on the application — that’s highly problematic, and it stays with you,” Mr. Marshall said.

As if Del. Bob Marshall had a crystal ball, his reasons behind opposing Begland's judgeship came true in August 2023 in a RVA Circuit Court case where three RVA judges are accused of treason by usurping the Supreme Court of Virginia's authority and conspiring to hold "kangaroo" hearings. Read Treason story

On August 10, 2023, Judge Tracy W. J. Thorne-Begland’s violated Title 18 U.S.C., Section 242 Deprivation Of Rights Under Color Of Law , Rules of the Virginia Code of Professional Conduct, and Judicial Canon III, Canon 1., Canon 2., and Canon 3. Judge Begland was obligated to recuse himself for having a conflict of interest with the Petitioner Nickolas Spanos. Spanos has pending ethics complaints against Judge Begland's solid supporters that pushed his judgeship nomination through in a 2nd vote in 2012. Read Richard Cullen and McGuireWoods support Gay Judge

Spanos filed ethics complaints against Richard Cullen, Chief legal advisor to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, former Delegate George Manoli Loupassi, and Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor, who is a LGBT activist with Judge Begland. The ethics complaints focused on a white nationalism doctrine that Cullen, Loupassi, Taylor, and other seven other high profile lawyers like James Comey and Howard C. Vick, operated in the Virginia Courts to protect affluent white businessmen and lawyers from being investigated and prosecuted in their involvement in a 600 kilo cocaine organization that operated in the RVA area for over ten years. Read Governor Youngkin's Legal Advisor Richard Cullen has pending Ethics Complaint for Promoting a White Nationalism Doctrine in Henrico Circuit Court

Judge Begland recognized that he was obligated to recuse himself, as he knew the connections between Spanos, Cullen, Comey, Vick, and other McGuireWoods attorneys. Yet, again he trashed his oath to protect the Constitution and entered vindictive orders against Spanos for exposing the white nationalism syndicate headed by Richard Cullen.

Retired Judge Balfour without being designated by the RVA Circuit Court or the Supreme Court of Virginia, presided over two cases that his close personal friend and business associate Robert Freed was a defendant in a $1.3 million fraud case. Both cases are pending in the Court of Appeals, where Freed and his clients are accused of committing extrinsic fraud on the court to obtain a $100,000 default judgment.

The lawyers representing the other defendants now have serious problems of their own, as they have been served with a RICO Civil claim outlining a pattern of racketeering concerning the cases in the RVA Circuit Court. Read High profile lawyers entangled in RICO Racketeering civil claim.

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.” 

https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2021/may/27/gold-rush/

                         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.

https://virginiastatebarcorruption.blogspot.com/2023/02/corrupt-judges-are-problem-with.html

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. 

https://virginiastatebarcorruption.blogspot.com/2022/11/virginia-senators-continues-to.html

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.

https://virginiastatebarcorruption.blogspot.com/2023/08/rva-judges-and-high-profile-lawyers.html

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.

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.

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.

See: https://virginiastatebarcorruption.blogspot.com/2023/08/rva-judges-and-high-profile-lawyers.html

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.

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