Judge Benson Everett Legg
It is self-evident, as the Fourth Circuit has noted, that “[s]urely, upholding constitutional rights serves the public interest.”
– Judge Legg
I am currently sitting in a hotel room after spending an exhausting day taking day one of the Virginia Bar Exam.
I had planned to do a few more practice problems tonight and get to bed early but I am very happy to announce that I had to write this article first.
Judge Legg has issued an order lifting his temporary stay of the ruling in Woollard v. Sheridan effective 14 days from today!
In a memorandum released along with the order, he lays out his analysis.
I will do a more detailed review of the impact of this order after I have put the second day of the Bar Exam behind me but I want to be one of the first ones to say …
“Congratulations Maryland! Welcome to the new normal!”
NOTE: For more information on what this means for Maryland permit applicants, see my earlier articles on the topic.
Hurray! Great news.
From Judge Legg’s Memorandum:
“[a]lthough considerable uncertainty exists regarding the scope of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, it undoubtedly is not limited to the confines of the home.”
“As the Court discussed in its summary judgment opinion, there are substantial similarities between the First and Second Amendments, and the analogy is appropriate here as well.”
Some well directed thinking here. Also think that maybe the door to open carry has been widened.