§ 51.1-309 Appearance as counsel in certain forums prohibited
A. No former justice or judge of a court of record of the Commonwealth and no former full-time judge of a court not of record of the Commonwealth, who is retired and receiving retirement benefits under the provisions of the Judicial Retirement System, shall appear as counsel in any case in any court of the Commonwealth.
B. No former member of the State Corporation Commission or Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, who is retired and receiving retirement benefits under the provisions of the Judicial Retirement System, shall appear as counsel in any case before the Commission of which he was formerly a member.
C. The provisions of subsection A shall not be applicable if the retired justice or judge is not authorized for or assigned to temporary recall by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, or the House and Senate Committees for Courts of Justice and either (i) (a) the retired judge or justice has been retired for at least two years; (b) the retired justice or judge is appearing as counsel, pro bono, for an indigent person in a civil matter; (c) such civil matter is assigned or referred to the retired justice or judge by a nonprofit legal aid program organized under the auspices of the Virginia State Bar; and (d) the retired justice or judge is not an employee, officer, or board member of such nonprofit legal aid program or (ii) the retired justice or judge is at least 67 years of age and is eligible to receive full Social Security benefits. Nothing herein shall relieve the retired justice or judge from having obtained any license or meeting any requirement in connection with the appearance as counsel as required by law, rule, or regulation. A retired justice or judge shall not be eligible to be authorized for or assigned to temporary recall after such time that he appears as private counsel pursuant to this subsection.
History
This law was first created in 1970. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 778 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 1970 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 6 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 1975, chapter 188; in 1980, chapter 138; in 1990, chapter 832; in 2011, chapter 705; in 2018, chapter 709; in 2023, chapter 552.
1970, c. 778, § 51-179; 1975, c. 188; 1980, c. 138; 1990, c. 832; 2011, c. 705; 2018, c. 709; 2023, c. 552.