Monday, July 1, 2024 | by LUCA POWELL

W. Reilly Marchant, chief judge, retires

To his mind, the most symbolic case of his time in the robes concerned the contentious statue of Robert E. Lee on Richmond’s Monument Avenue….

In June 2020, Gov. Ralph Northam ordered the statue’s removal. The decision came weeks after the murder of George Floyd by police in Minnesota…..

Marchant ruled that the 21-foot statue could be removed, with the proviso that the litigants could appeal the decision before any action was taken on the statue….

 Marchant’s ruling was later reinforced by a unanimous vote at the Virginia Supreme Court…

Marchant also presided over the trial of Amari Pollard, who was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Shawn Jackson at the Huguenot High School graduation in 2023…

Local lawyer Steven Benjamin was a classmate of Marchant’s at the University of Richmond Law School. Benjamin said Marchant brought good judgment, experience and an even temperament to the bench.

  • Crowd of people gathered around a monument at dusk, with graffiti spray-painted on its base, during a protest or demonstration.

    Judge Reilly Marchant Sides with effort to take down Lee statue

    The Court therefore holds that, at this time, the restrictive covenants are unenforceable by this court. RTD Oct 27, 2020

  • A memorial with a blue sign featuring the Richmond Public Schools (RPS) logo and the words "Strong," surrounded by flowers, teddy bears, and candles, set on a city sidewalk in front of historic buildings and trees.

    Pollard found guilty

    Marchant minced no words when he ruled that Pollard’s decision to fire six times into an unarmed Jackson did not meet legal thresholds for self-defense. RTD February 29, 2024

  • Sign for a school board with the logo RPS, a graduation cap, and the number 301, outside a modern building with bicycles parked nearby.

    Judge rules board must release report

    “The court finds that the School Board has failed to carry its burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the entire Report and its Exhibits are protected from disclosure under the attorney-client privilege as established by Virginia Code,” Marchant wrote in his decision.  RTD January 26, 2024

  • Map of certain counties, color-coded in various shades with numbered labels from 1 to 16.

    Judge upholds districts in gerrymandering suit

    Marchant said the constitutional validity of the map is ‘fairly debatable’. In that case he said lawmakers’ action must be upheld. RTD March 31, 2017

  • Aerial view of an urban development area with sports fields, office buildings, and green spaces.

    Judge dismisses suit brought by Goldman

    Marchant shot down this request, saying it was too hypothetical. If Goldman were to assemble a petition and the city were to reject it, Goldman could then sue on those grounds. RTD June 7, 2024

  • VCU Health sign outside a building with a leafless tree next to it, in an urban setting.

    Ex-security guard for VCU guilty in death

    “What we have here is, by all accounts, Mr. Brown, who has been a law-abiding citizen,” Marchant said. But Marchant described Brown’s actions on Aug. 7 as an “unwarranted and brutal overreaction to a breach in pharmacy protocol.” RTD March 25, 2016

  • Front view of three-story row houses with Victorian architecture, colorful facades, front porches, and spring landscaping.

    ‘Serial predator’ gets 127 years in prison

    Marchant said the charges against Harvey stood out among his years on the bench and decades practicing law. RTD July 5, 2021

  • Sign for the school board displaying the logo with a graduation cap, located at 301.

    Lawsuit against School Board tossed

    Richmond Circuit Court judge has dismissed a racially charged lawsuit against the city School Board that emerged as a campaign issue… RTD January 8, 2016

  • The exterior of John Marshall Courts Building with glass windows and a man in a yellow safety vest walking nearby.

    Richmond Bar Association, judges opposing tentative plan of moving courts to be near jail

    Having discussed this with the Chief Judge of the Richmond Circuit Court, W. Reilly Marchant, I can tell you that all seven of the Circuit Court Judges oppose that location for myriad reasons,” Johnson said in the letter. The jail is on Fairfield Way in the city’s East End. RTD May 17, 2024