Silence surrounds UVA lacrosse player Yeardley Love's death

After May's sensational headlines that blasted the news of the horrific death of 22-year-old University of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love across the nation, it has been strangely silent.

George Huguely V, 22, the former boyfriend of Ms. Love, was arrested in the case and held in solitary confinement in the Charlottesville area jail without bond. His hearing was originally to be held June 10 but later was postponed to October 7.

So is George Huguely still in the Charlottesville area jail? That would mean he would spend five months waiting for a hearing. There has been no word that he has been release on bail.

The search warrants that had been sealed early in the case were released today with names of witnesses redacted and little new information. Is the case on hold until October?

UVA lacrosse murder case ... court unseals some documents

After weeks of secrecy, a judge has ruled to unseal heavily edited portions of court orders that sealed search warrants in the Yeardley Love murder investigation in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The search warrants won't be unsealed ... just portions of the orders to seal the search warrants.
Confused yet?

A hearing is set for July 1 requesting the sealed search warrants be released.

The Charlottesville Daily Progress had been perplexed earlier in the week about the search warrants and wrote:

Records such as search warrants are public documents that are constitutionally required to be open to the public.

There are, however, certain exceptions specified by law.

We just want to know which exception was invoked in this case.

The Daily Progress and several other media interests have filed suit seeking that answer. We aren’t even asking to see the warrants (one of which The Progress had viewed before the seal was imposed). We just want to know why they were sealed.

A judge last week rejected the media groups’ initial suit, saying essentially that it was filed against the wrong entity. The suit should not have been directed at the clerk of court, who maintains records such as search warrants; it should have been directed at the court itself, said the judge.

Well, then. Because the court order itself is secret, there is no way to be certain who issued it — and therefore no way to know how to effectively challenge the order.
...
[Commentator] David Feldman’s scenario runs like this ...:

DP: “Hi, I’m from The Daily Progress. I’d like to see the warrants in the Yeardley Love case.”

CLERK: “You can’t see the warrants. They have been sealed by court order.”

DP: “Well, can I see the order sealing the warrants?”

CLERK: “No. That order has been sealed also.”

DP: “Well, then. Who signed the order sealing the order sealing the warrants?”

CLERK: “I can’t tell you that. It is sealed with the order sealing the warrants.”

DP: “Well, how can I appeal the sealing of the order sealing the warrants if I don’t know what it is, where it is or the judge who signed it?”

CLERK: “What order?”

Stay tuned....

Rob Bell UVA tailgate party with Fred Barnes of Fox News

The U.Va. 2009 football season kicks off on September 5, 2009, against William & Mary at 6:00 p.m.!

To get things started, Del. Rob Bell extends an invitation to attend a "Pre-Tailgate Tailgate" with Fred Barnes.

Mr. Barnes is a political commentator on Fox News, the executive editor of The Weekly Standard, and a loyal Wahoo from the Class of 1965.

The U.Va. Pep Band has also been invited. Come out for football, food and politics!

Individual tickets are $25.00, you may RSVP by email to RobBell2009@aol.com

Virginia Tech Hokies win!!

Virginia Tech 17 ... UVA 14.

We have a happy household....

Virginia Tech is playing UVA

Virginia Tech's football game began at noon today ... and my step-dad is parked in front of the TV watching his alma mater play play the University of Virginia.

As we put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house, we are mindful to not disturb him as he watches his beloved Hokies on this late November afternoon.

Shhh! Virginia Tech football is on. Go, Hokies!