Ronald Taft Davis, III v. Commonwealth of Virginia

I respectfully dissent. Twelve competent jurors considered all of the evidence and argument presented in the circuit court. Those twelve jurors found Ronald Taft Davis, III, *58guilty of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Today’s decision overturns the jury’s verdict — but not because of any defect that actually occurred at the jury trial in the circuit court. Instead, applying the doctrine of collateral estoppel, the majority holds that the result of prior proceedings in the general district court absolutely prevented the circuit court jury from…