It occurred to me that the Virginia Local Government Law blog ought to say something about the legal issues that face local governments at the holidays. And there are many.

This time of year, there are the seasonal First Amendment establishment clause issues in “holiday display” cases, such as oh-too-publicly experienced this year in at least one locality. There, an administrative official banned such displays, then the inevitable protest arose and the local governing body stepped in to allow them again. Other localities looking at a change in membership of the local governing body are facing various issues related to the change in leadership, and as a result of changing policy.