Should Virginia Adopt The Federal Rules of Discovery?

More than fifteen years -ago Virginia made a very important and progressive modification of the rules of practice and procedure in actions at law and suits in equity. The promulgation of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Appeals in 1950 substituted a modern system for an archaic, outmoded, and cumbersome one. Under the Rules litigants can state their case and plead in a brief and succinct manner, unhampered with unnecessary and ancient verbiage. There is less emphasis on form and more on substance, and this facilitates the better administration of justice.

Generally, the Rules have unquestionably served the purposes which motivated their adoption, and the bench and bar have been reason- ably satisfied with the utilization of the present system.