The Circuit Court
The
Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Virginia;
this means that the court has authority to try a full range of cases
both civil and criminal. Civil cases involve disputes essentially
private in nature between two or more parties; criminal cases are
controversies between the State and persons accused of a crime.
Only in a circuit court is a jury provided for the trial of these
disputes and controversies.
The
Virginia circuit court system is composed of thirty-one judicial
circuits with one hundred twenty-two separate circuit courts in
the various counties and cities of the State. The Supreme Court
of Virginia establishes rules of practice and procedure for the
circuit courts, and the Executive Secretary of the court as the
administrator of the circuit court system.
Judges
and Clerks
A
circuit court judge is elected for an eight-year term by a majority
vote of both houses of the General Assembly. If the General Assembly
is not in session when a vacancy occurs, the Governor temporarily
appoints (inter appointment) a judge to serve until the General
Assembly meets again and can elect a judge for a full term. There
are at least two judges serving each circuit and as many as fourteen
serving in larger circuits. The Chief Judge of the circuit is elected
by vote of the judges serving the circuit. Circuit court judges
are required to reside in the circuit they serve and must have been
admitted to the Virginia Bar at least five years prior to election
or appointment.
The
clerk of the Circuit Court is a constitutional official and is elected
to an eight-year term by the voters of the locality. The clerk handles
administrative matters for the court and also has authority to probate
wills and grant administration of estates. The clerk is the custodian
of the court records and the clerk's office is where deeds are recorded
and marriage licenses are issued.
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Deeds
are recorded from 8:30 AM to 4:10 PM |
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Marriage
licenses are issued from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM |
The circuit court handles all civil cases with claims
of more than $15,000. It shares authority with the general district
court to hear matters involving between $4,500 and $15,000. The
circuit court has the authority to hear serious criminal cases called
felonies.
The circuit court also handles family matters, including
divorce. In addition, the circuit court hears cases appealed from
the general district court and from the juvenile and domestic relations
district court.
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