Lawrence Larkins Koontz Jr. (born January 25, 1940) is a Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Justice Koontz has served at every level of court in the Virginia judicial system.[1]
Prior to being made a Supreme Court justice, Koontz was an original member of the Virginia Court of Appeals, serving as its second chief judge for two four year terms following the death of chief judge E. Ballard Baker a few months after the Court was created. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals, Koontz served as a judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia and the Roanoke Juvenile Court.[2] He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and was a member of the Corps of Cadets. He received his law degree from University of Richmond School of Law.
Among Koontz's more controversial opinions was Arlington County v. White, in which the Court determined that a local government could not extend employee health benefits to non-related persons living with the employee, including same-sex partners. Writing for the majority, Koontz applied the "Dillon Rule" that prohibits local governments in Virginia from going beyond the authority delegated to them by the state government. As expressed in a concurring opinion by Justice Cynthia D. Kinser, the majority declined to address whether the County's action was an attempt to recognize same-sex marriage, as was argued in a separate concurring opinion written by Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell Sr., who was joined by two other justices. Despite the legal justification of the majority for striking down the policy, the opinion is nonetheless viewed as controversial in the Gay and Lesbian Community.[citation needed]
Koontz also authored one of the two dissents in the Supreme Court of Virginia's opinion in Atkins v. Commonwealth. When the case was subsequently reversed by the United States Supreme Court, the majority opinion in that Court quoted from Justice Koontz's dissent, along with the dissent by Justice Hassell.[3] Specifically, the Court cited Justice Koontz's observation that "it is indefensible to conclude that individuals who are mentally retarded are not to some degree less culpable for their criminal acts. By definition, such individuals have substantial limitations not shared by the general population. A moral and civilized society diminishes itself if its system of justice does not afford recognition and consideration of those limitations in a meaningful way."
In a 2008 dissent in the death penalty case of Porter v. Commonwealth, Koontz, responding to the majority's use of procedural default to excuse the trial court's gross abuse of power in presiding over the trial in a different jurisdiction without a proper order of designation, observed that "[i]f the courts empowered to sit in judgment over those accused of typically heinous crimes fail to take the greatest care in assuring the fairness of the proceedings that result in the imposition of the death penalty, then it must inevitably follow in time that the death penalty statutes of this Commonwealth will no longer pass constitutional muster."[4] This statement was widely quoted in the media and reflects Justice Koontz's growing frustration with the manner in which the death penalty is administered in Virginia.
Collected opinionsedit
Koontz's collected opinions have been published in a seven volume set with the final volume being released in July 2017. Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. (2011), Jurist Prudent -- The Judicial Opinions of Lawrence L. Koontz Jr., Volume 1, Salem, Virginia, USA: Salem/Roanoke County Bar Association, OL 24619284M Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. (2011), Jurist Prudent -- The Judicial Opinions of Lawrence L. Koontz Jr., Volume 2, Salem, Virginia, USA: Salem/Roanoke County Bar Association, OL 24619285M
Referencesedit
^"Lawrence L. Koontz, Jr., August 16, 1995-February 1, 2011; Senior Justice, 2011-present". Virginia Appellate Court History. 13 May 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
^Vieth, Peter (July 22, 2016). "Senior Justice Koontz receives Carrico award". Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
^Gangloff, Mike (December 4, 2010). "Judge puts gavel down after career of 43 years". Roanoke Times. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
Opinion in Porter v. Commonwealth including Justice Koontz's dissent (PDF Format)
April 12, 2024
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Lawrence Larkins Koontz Jr born January 25 1940 is a Senior Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia Justice Koontz has served at every level of court in the Virginia judicial system 1 Lawrence L Koontz Jr Justice of the Supreme Court of VirginiaIn office August 16 1995 February 1 2011Preceded byHenry H WhitingSucceeded byElizabeth A McClanahan2nd Chief Judge of the Virginia Court of AppealsIn office April 1 1985 April 30 1993Preceded byE Ballard BakerSucceeded byNorman K MoonJudge of the Virginia Court of AppealsIn office January 1 1985 August 15 1995Preceded byNone position created Succeeded byNelson T OvertonPersonal detailsBornLawrence Larkins Koontz Jr 1940 01 25 January 25 1940 age 84 Roanoke Virginia U S SpouseEberle SmithChildren2 daughters 1 sonAlma materVirginia Tech BS University of Richmond JD Contents 1 Judicial career 2 Collected opinions 3 References 4 External linksJudicial career editPrior to being made a Supreme Court justice Koontz was an original member of the Virginia Court of Appeals serving as its second chief judge for two four year terms following the death of chief judge E Ballard Baker a few months after the Court was created Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals Koontz served as a judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia and the Roanoke Juvenile Court 2 He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and was a member of the Corps of Cadets He received his law degree from University of Richmond School of Law Among Koontz s more controversial opinions was Arlington County v White in which the Court determined that a local government could not extend employee health benefits to non related persons living with the employee including same sex partners Writing for the majority Koontz applied the Dillon Rule that prohibits local governments in Virginia from going beyond the authority delegated to them by the state government As expressed in a concurring opinion by Justice Cynthia D Kinser the majority declined to address whether the County s action was an attempt to recognize same sex marriage as was argued in a separate concurring opinion written by Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell Sr who was joined by two other justices Despite the legal justification of the majority for striking down the policy the opinion is nonetheless viewed as controversial in the Gay and Lesbian Community citation needed Koontz also authored one of the two dissents in the Supreme Court of Virginia s opinion in Atkins v Commonwealth When the case was subsequently reversed by the United States Supreme Court the majority opinion in that Court quoted from Justice Koontz s dissent along with the dissent by Justice Hassell 3 Specifically the Court cited Justice Koontz s observation that it is indefensible to conclude that individuals who are mentally retarded are not to some degree less culpable for their criminal acts By definition such individuals have substantial limitations not shared by the general population A moral and civilized society diminishes itself if its system of justice does not afford recognition and consideration of those limitations in a meaningful way In a 2008 dissent in the death penalty case of Porter v Commonwealth Koontz responding to the majority s use of procedural default to excuse the trial court s gross abuse of power in presiding over the trial in a different jurisdiction without a proper order of designation observed that i f the courts empowered to sit in judgment over those accused of typically heinous crimes fail to take the greatest care in assuring the fairness of the proceedings that result in the imposition of the death penalty then it must inevitably follow in time that the death penalty statutes of this Commonwealth will no longer pass constitutional muster 4 This statement was widely quoted in the media and reflects Justice Koontz s growing frustration with the manner in which the death penalty is administered in Virginia Collected opinions editKoontz s collected opinions have been published in a seven volume set with the final volume being released in July 2017 Lawrence L Koontz Jr 2011 Jurist Prudent The Judicial Opinions of Lawrence L Koontz Jr Volume 1 Salem Virginia USA Salem Roanoke County Bar Association OL 24619284M Lawrence L Koontz Jr 2011 Jurist Prudent The Judicial Opinions of Lawrence L Koontz Jr Volume 2 Salem Virginia USA Salem Roanoke County Bar Association OL 24619285MReferences edit Lawrence L Koontz Jr August 16 1995 February 1 2011 Senior Justice 2011 present Virginia Appellate Court History 13 May 2014 Retrieved September 24 2022 Vieth Peter July 22 2016 Senior Justice Koontz receives Carrico award Virginia Lawyers Weekly Retrieved September 24 2022 Gangloff Mike December 4 2010 Judge puts gavel down after career of 43 years Roanoke Times Retrieved September 24 2022 Porter v Commonwealth 276 Va 203 Va 2008 External links editOpinion in Porter v Commonwealth including Justice Koontz s dissent PDF Format Opinion in Atkins v Commonwealth including Justice Koontz s dissent PDF format Opinion in Arlington County v White Microsoft Word format Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lawrence L Koontz Jr amp oldid 1172403964, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
