Anonymous jurors, part III

VCOG is not the only group opposing the rules advisory committee's proposal to make jurors anonymous in all criminal cases.

The ACLU of Virginia issued a press release that includes its legal counsel's comments filed in opposition.

So did the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

So did the Virginia Press Association.

Kent Sinclair, chair of the advisory committee, told the Times-Dispatch that typically when new rules are considered, they are tentatively adopted by the advisory committee and published for comment, as in this case. The advisory committee then studies the comments and forwards its recommendation to the Virginia Judicial Council. If the committee's recommendation differs from the one published, then its recommendation also is published and the public has a chance to file comments with the judicial council.

A draft of the proposed rule is found here.