Part 2.Virginia Lawyer boasted in emails that Appellate Judges were bribed and it rang true!

Attorney Robert L. Freed is facing two serious cases in the Virginia Courts which he is accused of extrinsic fraud upon the court in conspiring with his clients to attempt a $1.3 million fraud and an ethics complaint to have his law license revoked for numerous ethical misconduct and criminal violations.

Richmond Circuit Court Case No. CL21-4150 Spanos v. Freed et al. is an ethics complaint filed against Robert L. Freed and Emily E. Kokie, who committed extrinsic fraud upon the court by obtaining a default judgment without serving the defendant. They hid the default judgment from the defendant, who only discovered it after 18 years, after the death of his mother and the default judgment was to be paid through her will.  

Robert Freed is represented by his counsel Julie S. Palmer and Michael Harman, who have entangled themselves in Freed's corruption. The prima facie evidence is strong against them so the only path to getting a decision in their favor was to have Freed's close friend and associate retired judge Daniel T. Balfour preside over the case and rule in Freed's favor.

The problem with that is that Daniel T. Balfour usurped the authority of the Supreme Court of Virginia (SCV) and the Virginia legislature, as retired Judge Balfour had not been designated by court order to preside over and enter orders in CL21-4150. The SCV confirmed in emails that they had no records of a designation order for Daniel T. Balfour to preside over CL21-4150.

Retired judge Balfour entered an order on February 17, 2022, dismissing the ethics complaint against his close friend Robert Freed and Spanos appealed the case to the Court of Appeals of Virginia (CAV) Rec. No. 0706-22.

Spanos filed numerous pleading giving undeniable evidence of Freed's fraud upon the court and Motion for Sanctions against Freed and his Counsel Julie Palmer and Michael Harman for violating the Virginia Code of Professional Conduct (VCPC), SCV rules and most importantly Virginia Codes for bribery.

The strongest evidence was a October 31, 2022, email by Robert Freed to the trustee and accountant to the Spanos Trust and Freed's legal assistance boasting that he was "I have been assured that his petition for appeal will be denied".

Robert Freed's admission violates VCPC Rule 8.4, 4. state or imply an ability to influence improperly or upon irrelevant grounds any tribunal, legislative body, or public official.

Despite the prima facie evidence of corruption against Robert Freed and his close personal friend retired judge Daniel T. Balfour, the CAV Justices Daniel Ortiz, Lisa Lorish, and Richard AtLee ignored Spanos' pleadings and failed to rule or address them in their January 18, 2024 Order dismissing the ethics complaint against Robert Freed.

Spanos affirmatively showed to the CAV that a miscarriage of justice had occurred by retired Judge Balfour’s lack of subject matter jurisdiction to preside and enter orders in CL21-4150, rendering the Trial Court’s Final Order void ab initio.

The Order entered by the CAV Justices Daniel Ortiz, Lisa Lorish, and Richard AtLee is shameless and gives further evidence of the “protection syndicate” in the Virginia Judicial system. The “protection syndicate” operates uncloaked and without fear of reprisals in the Courts, as they have become a hive that operates with ex parte communications to deprive pro se litigants if they dare seek to protect their Constitutional rights to Due Process. 

CAV Justices Daniel Ortiz, Lisa Lorish, and Richard AtLee knowingly acted arbitrarily, capriciously, and contrary to case law in deciding the Appellant’s case before this Court. 

The problem is that Daniel T. Balfour usurped the authority of the Supreme Court of Virginia (SCV) and the Virginia legislature, as retired Judge Balfour had not been designated by court order to preside over and enter orders in CL21-4150. The SCV confirmed in emails that they had no records of a designation order for Daniel T. Balfour to preside over CL21-4150.

Part. 1 Virginia Appellate Judges caught in web of corruption

Virginia Appellate Judges Daniel E. Ortiz, Lisa M. Lorish, and Richard Y. AtLee have been caught in judicial corruption and violating their oath to the Constitution in a highly controversial ethics complaint against Attorney Robert Freed. Robert L. Freed and Emily Kokie are accused of conspiring with their clients to commit a $1.2 million fraud by not serving a defendant and obtaining a default judgment without his knowledge.

Appellate Judges Ortiz, Lorish, and AtLee, attempted to cover up the treasonous usurpation of authority by retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour who illegally presided over the ethics complaint against attorneys Robert Freed and Emily Kokie without a designation order by the Richmond Circuit Court (RVA Court) or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia (SCV).

On January 18, 2024, Appellate Judges Ortiz, Lorish, and AtLee entered an order dismissing the Appeal, which they ignored and failed to rule on two Motions to Void the Trial Courts Order based on Extrinsic Fraud on the Court rendering the Final Order Void ab initio. The two Motions stated that retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour had no jurisdiction or authority to preside and enter orders in the ethics complaint.

Appellate Judges Lisa Lorish and Daniel Ortiz were newly elected by the Virginia Senate in 2021 to the Virginia Court of Appeals. Judge Richard Y. AtLee was elected in 2015.

Judges Ortiz, Lorish, and AtLee presided over Spanos v. Freed et al, CAV Rec. No. 0706-22 (RVA CL21-4150), which gave evidence supported by the SCV and RVA Court records that no designation order had been entered for retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour to preside and enter orders.

Under Virginia Code § 17.1-105. Designation of judges, retired judges called to preside over circuit court cases must have a designation order by the RVA Court or a designation order from the Chief Justice of the SCV. RVA Court records fail to show any designation orders had been entered.

Spanos v. Freed et al.

On August 18, 2023, the SCV Clerk confirmed in an email to the Appellant that no designation order had been entered for retired Judge Balfour to preside over Case Nos. CL21-4150.

Retired Judge  .

Daniel T. Balfour and Robert Freed have had a close personal and business relationship for decades, even writing published works together called "Simple" Wills The Oxymoron 

Further corruption and judicial canons violations by Appellate Judges Ortiz, Lorish, and AtLee are evidenced by their premature Order dated January 25, 2024, which they denied Spanos a Petition for Rehearing, which Spanos had not filed with the CAV until January 26, 2024. The Order gives evidence of violation of Federal code Title 18, USC. 242, Deprivation of Rights under Color of Law.

January 25, 2024 CAV Order

Spanos filed a Plea for the CAV to enter orders on his two Motions to Void the Trial Court's Final Order and Correct their January 25, 2024, Order.

This is the second case before the CAV which retired Judge Daniel T. Balfour illegally presided and entered orders concerning Robert L. Freed as an Defendant, which retired Judge Balfour had not been designated by the RVA Court or the SCV.

The CAV is presiding over Spanos v. Freed et al, Rec. No. 1456-23, (RVA CL23-2683), which Freed is a defendant with four others who attempted to commit a $1.2 million fraud on Spanos by defective service process and concealing the hearing and default judgment from Spanos.

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.

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.

 

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.