Press Releases
Written on May 15, 2012 in Press Releases
STATEMENT OF: Delegate Bob Marshall (R., Manassas)
SUBJECT: Rejection of Tracy Thorne-Begland’s Judicial Nomination
DATE: Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Virginia House of Delegates has properly rejected the selection of Tracy Thorne-Begland as a candidate for a judgeship.
A state judge has a critically important role in our state and our society. When we go into court, we must know that the judge who decides our case wants to preserve the rule of law by finding the law in our constitutions, statutes, and prior decisions of the court. We do not need more judges who want to use their position to remake the law in their own image. We must know that the person who embodies the authority of the Commonwealth in that courtroom has a judicial temperament – is an impartial decision maker. Particularly in District Court, where there is no right to jury trial, we must trust the judge to weigh the evidence impartially and render justice under law. Under our system, the advocates in that courtroom are the lawyers, but never the judge. Read more
Written on May 12, 2012 in Press Releases
General Assembly to Vote Monday
Legislator Cites Nominee’s Long History as ‘Aggressive Activist for Pro-Homosexual Agenda’
MANASSAS, May 12 – Delegate Bob Marshall said today that he will seek to remove the name of a homosexual activist from a list of proposed District Court judicial appointments if the name remains on the list when it comes to a vote Monday in the Virginia General Assembly.
The judgeship nominee is Tracy Thorne-Begland, a Richmond attorney identified by Marshall (R., Manassas) as “an aggressive activist for the pro-homosexual agenda.”
“After more than a week of pleading by some Republican Caucus members,” Marshall said, “the House Republican leadership has so far declined to removed Mr. Thorne-Begland’s name from the block of nominees,” Marshall said. “If this situation remains unchanged, I will offer an amendment to remove his name.” Read more
Written on May 2, 2012 in Press Releases
Veteran Legislator Thanks ‘Liberty-Minded Citizens’ for Supporting Measure
RICHMOND, April 18 – State Delegate and U.S. Senate Candidate Bob Marshall expressed thanks tonight “to the many liberty-minded citizens across Virginia” for their support of his bill enacted by the Virginia General Assembly today to block agencies and employees of the Commonwealth from taking part in unlimited detention of United States citizens by federal authorities for suspected terrorism.
“With the overwhelming General Assembly acceptance of my bill with several amendments offered by Gov. Bob McDonnell, Virginia is saying “no thanks” to Congress to any participation in the unconstitutional detention of American citizens without trial, legal counsel, specific charges, or the right to face their accusers,” Marshall said.
Read more
Written on April 5, 2012 in Press Releases
Document Analyzes Federal Law’s Unconstitutionality in Unlimited Detention of Citizens
MANASSAS, April 4 – Delegate Bob Marshall today sent Gov. Bob McDonnell an 11-page memorandum analyzing legal aspects of his HB 1160 and detailing reasons why McDonnell should sign the bill into law.
Marshall’s HB 1160 would prevent agencies and employees at all levels of Virginia’s state and local governments from assisting federal authorities in the unlimited detention of United States citizens without charges or court hearing merely on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities. Read more
Written on March 8, 2012 in Press Releases
Senate Votes 37-1
Legislator Urges Gov. McDonnell to Sign HB 1160 into Law as Part of the Code of Virginia
RICHMOND, March 8 – Delegate Bob Marshall today praised the Virginia State Senate for passing his HB 1160 to prevent Virginia’s government agencies and employees from having to take part in illegal and indefinite federal detention of United States citizens.
The action completes the Virginia General Assembly’s consideration of the legislation. Marshall (R., Manassas) urged Gov. Bob McDonnell to sign the bill into law.
“I extend heartfelt thanks to the thousands of concerned citizens who communicated with members of the Senate and the House of Delegates over the last several weeks, urging adoption of this important measure against federal violation of our precious constitutional rights,” Marshall said. Read more
Written on March 6, 2012 in Press Releases
STATEMENT OF: Delegate Bob Marshall
SUBJECT: House of Delegates vote rejecting the Senate amendments to HB 1160, Unlawful detention of United States citizens
DATE: Tuesday, Marcy 6, 2012
I am disturbed by the secretive, backdoor way in which my HB 1160 is being “handled” by the Governor’s office.
My legislation seeks to keep Virginia from participating in the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens with no criminal records, no trial, no legal counsel, no charges and no day in court under the federal National Defense Authorization Act. Read more
Written on March 2, 2012 in News, Press Releases
RICHMOND, March 2 – Delegate Robert Marshall sought today to require that a $68.9 million received in a settlement payment by the state attorney general’s office actually be used for the settlement and not for other purposes.
Marshall’s proposal was an amendment to legislation for the fiscal 2013 state budget that the funds “provided from the Mortgage Servicing Settlement Agreement may only be used for the purposes for which the attorney general’s settlement was made.” Read more
Written on March 2, 2012 in News, Press Releases
Attention: Editors, News Directors and Reporters
FYI, below is a letter Delegate Bob Marshall (R., Manassas) distributed Thursday (March 1) evening to his colleagues in the Virginia House of Delegates regarding his pending HB 1160 (Unlawful detention of U.S. citizens). The legislation is scheduled for final House consideration Friday (March 2).
Also FYI, below is the news release Marshall issued Tuesday (Feb. 28) after the Virginia State Senate, on a 38-1 roll call vote, passed HB 1160 with a clarifying amendment.
###
Colleagues —
House consideration of HB 1160 (Unlawful detention of U.S. citizens) was put over until tomorrow [Friday, March 2]. I urge the House to adopt the Senate amendment, which does all that the House bill did, but with fewer words. Read more
Written on February 29, 2012 in Press Releases
38-1 Roll Call Vote
Now Legislation Returns to House of Delegates for Approval of Clarifying Amendment
RICHMOND, Feb. 28 – Delegate Bob Marshall said today that he is “deeply gratified” that the Virginia State Senate has passed his bill to protect Virginians from having to participate in the unconstitutional detention of United States citizens by federal authorities.
“I am hopeful that Governor McDonnell will sign this bill,” Marshall (R., Manassas), and that this law will provide an important protection for Virginians against improper federal action. Moreover, it is my hope that other states will follow Virginia in responding to Washington, D.C.’s latest overreach, and that Congress will re-think this unconstitutional action.”
The Senate passed Delegate Bob Marshall’s HB 1160 to bar Virginia from assisting the federal government in the unlawful detention of United States citizens under an obscure provision of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress. Read more
Written on February 28, 2012 in Press Highlights, Press Releases
RICHMOND, Feb. 27 – Delegate Bob Marshall urged the Virginia State Senate tonight to pass his bill to block Virginia’s political subdivisions, agencies, employees and National Guard personnel from assisting federal authorities or armed forces in “unlawful detention of United States citizens.”
“Our liberties literally hang in the balance,” Marshall (R., Manassas) said.
Earlier today, a move by Senate Democrats to send the bill back to that body’s Courts of Justice Committee was rejected by a tie roll call vote, 20-20, after which Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, as the Senate’s presiding officer, also cast a “nay” vote. Read more
