NCJ Number
55119
Date Published
1978
Length
92 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT, ONE IN A SERIES CONTAINING PROFILES OF NONFEDERAL COURT SYSTEMS, DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE COURTS IN VIRGINIA.
Abstract
THE VIRGINIA COURT SYSTEM UNDERWENT A MAJOR REORGANIZATION IN 1973. CORPORATION, HUSTINGS, LAW AND CHANCERY, CHANCERY, AND LAW AND EQUITY COURTS WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO A STREAMLINED CIRCUIT COURT SYSTEM. THE NUMBER OF JUDICIAL CIRCUITS WAS REDUCED FROM 40 TO 30. NUMEROUS TRIAL COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION, SUCH AS COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, POLICE, JUVENILE, AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURTS, WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO A DISTRICT COURT SYSTEM (GENERAL DISTRICT COURTS AND JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURTS). THE HIGHEST COURT IN VIRGINIA IS THE SUPREME COURT. IT HAS ORIGINAL JURISDICTION IN MATTERS OF JUDICIAL CENSURE, RETIREMENT, AND REMOVAL AND APPELLATE JURISDICTION OVER CONSTITUTIONAL CASES AND CASES INVOLVING THE LIFE OR LIBERTY OF ANY PERSON. THE SUPREME COURT HEARS APPEALS FROM ORDERS, JUDGMENTS, AND FINDINGS OF THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION AND THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION. THE ONLY TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION IS THE CURCUIT COURT. IT HAS EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL CRIMINAL JURISDICTION IN CASES INVOLVING A POSSIBLE SENTENCE TO THE STATE PENITENTIARY. ITS EXCLUSIVE CIVIL JURISDICTION EXTENDS TO ALL CONTROVERSIES WHERE THE CLAIM EXCEEDS $5,000. PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS ARE ADDRESSED: QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, AND TERM OF THE JUDICIARY; DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES; COMPENSATION; RETIREMENT AGE AND ACTIVE SERVICE; CONTINUING EDUCATION; AND USE OF PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS. THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. A STATEWIDE NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, TRIAL COURT OF LIMITED JURISDICTION, JUDGES, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL, JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING AND ADVISORY BODIES, COURT ADMINISTRATION, COURT FINANCING, COURT RECORDS AND STATISTICS, AND COURT REFORM. SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE ARE LISTED, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. DATA ON SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE VIRGINIA COURT SYSTEM AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS RELATING TO COURT ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)