Virginia Supreme Court clears senators held in contempt over redistricting records
The Supreme Court of Virginia has cleared six current and former state senators who were held in contempt by a lower court this year for refusing to turn over redistricting records by invoking legislative privilege.
In a unanimous opinion published Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that legislative privilege not only covers communications between legislators and their aides, but also can extend to third-party consultants hired to perform work on legislators’ behalf.
Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons wrote that the Richmond Circuit Court “abused its discretion” in April by holding the senators and the Division of Legislative Services in contempt for ignoring subpoenas aimed at internal records that would shed light on the redistricting process.
Taking an expansive view of the state constitution’s clause on legislative immunity, Lemons wrote that the protection “allows legislators to fulfill their legislative duties without undue interference.”
Read more: http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_56564820-8161-52a8-bfdb-e53733e05b6e.html
