Blick v. Marks, Stokes and Harrison

This appeal of a judgment entered on a promissory note in favor of a law partnership against two clients has been limited to consideration of one issue. Code § 16.1-69.12(c) provides that substitute judges of courts not of record “shall not appear as counsel in any civil or criminal case arising out of the circumstances which were involved in any other case brought before them.” The question presented is whether a violation of this statute renders void and unenforceable a contract between the law firm and the clients for services rendered.

In 1975, an ex parte order was entered in the Hopewell…