§ 17.1-507 Maximum number of judges; residence requirement; compensation; powers; etc
A. For the several judicial circuits there shall be judges, the maximum number as hereinafter set forth, who shall during their service reside within their respective circuits and whose compensation and powers shall be the same as now and hereafter prescribed for circuit judges. The maximum number of judges of the circuits shall be as follows: First — 6 Second — 8 Third — 4 Fourth — 8 Fifth — 4 Sixth — 3 Seventh — 5 Eighth — 3 Ninth — 5 Tenth — 4 Eleventh — 3 Twelfth — 6 Thirteenth — 7 Fourteenth — 5 Fifteenth — 12 Sixteenth — 6 Seventeenth — 4 Eighteenth — 3 Nineteenth — 15 Twentieth — 5 Twenty-first — 3 Twenty-second — 4 Twenty-third — 5 Twenty-fourth — 6 Twenty-fifth — 7 Twenty-sixth — 8 Twenty-seventh — 6 Twenty-eighth — 4 Twenty-ninth — 5 Thirtieth — 4 Thirty-first — 7
B. No additional circuit court judge shall be authorized or provided for any judicial circuit until the Judicial Council has made a study of the need for such additional circuit court judge and has reported its findings and recommendations to the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice. The boundary of any judicial circuit shall not be changed until a study has been made by the Judicial Council and a report of its findings and recommendations made to said Committees.
C. If the Judicial Council finds the need for an additional circuit court judge after a study is made pursuant to subsection B, the study shall be made available to the Compensation Board and the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice and the Judicial Council shall publish notice of such finding in a publication of general circulation among attorneys licensed to practice in the Commonwealth. The Compensation Board shall make a study of the need to provide additional courtroom security and deputy court clerk staffing. This study shall be reported to the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice, and to the Department of Planning and Budget.
History
This law was first created in 1973. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 544 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1973 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 29 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1974, chapters 42 and 43; in 1975, chapter 40; in 1977, chapter 4; in 1979, chapter 6; in 1980, chapter 29; in 1981, chapter 27; in 1982, chapter 57; in 1983, chapter 2; in 1985, chapter 43; in 1986, chapters 78 and 479; in 1989, chapter 43; in 1990, chapters 113 and 114; in 1991, chapters 20, 419, and 623; in 1992, chapter 92; in 1993, chapters 9 and 89; in 1994, chapters 89 and 454; in 1995, chapter 20; in 1996, chapter 120; in 1997, chapter 17; in 1998, chapters 3 and 872; in 1999, chapters 10 and 319; in 2000, chapter 37; in 2005, chapters 190, 231, and 951; in 2006, chapters 35 and 738; in 2013, chapter 806; in 2014, chapters 812 and 822; in 2018, chapters 126 and 135; in 2022, chapters 579 and 580; in 2024, chapters 525 and 606.
1973, c. 544, § 17-119.1:2; 1974, cc. 42, 43; 1975, c. 40; 1977, c. 4; 1979, c. 6; 1980, c. 29; 1981, c. 27; 1982, c. 57; 1983, c. 2; 1985, c. 43; 1986, cc. 78, 479; 1989, c. 43; 1990, cc. 113, 114; 1991, cc. 20, 419, 623; 1992, c. 92; 1993, cc. 9, 89; 1994, cc. 89, 454; 1995, c. 20; 1996, c. 120; 1997, c. 17; 1998, cc. 3, 872; 1999, cc. 10, 319; 2000, c. 37; 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 4; 2005, cc. 190, 231, 951; 2006, cc. 35, 738; 2006, Sp. Sess. I, c. 2; 2013, c. 806; 2014, cc. 812, 822; 2018, cc. 126, 135; 2022, cc. 579, 580; 2024, cc. 525, 606.