{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/15.2-1643.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/15.2-1643.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/15.2-1643.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/15.2-1643.html"}],"law_id":68081,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68081,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1643","catch_line":"Circuit courts to order court facilities to be repaired","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 15-693.1; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-267; 1975, c. 444; 1979, c. 507; 1997, c. 587; 2002, c. 758; 2012, cc. 805, 836; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 489.","full_text":"A\n\nWhen it appears to the circuit court for any county or city, from the report of persons appointed to examine the court facilities, or otherwise, that the court facilities of such county or city are insecure, out of repair, or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of court employees or the public, the court shall enter an order, in the name and on behalf of the Commonwealth against the supervisors of the county, or the members of the council of the city, as the case may be, to show cause why a mandamus should not issue, commanding them to cause the court facilities of such county or city to be made secure, or put in good repair, or rendered otherwise safe as the case may be, and to proceed as in other cases of mandamus, to cause the necessary work to be done. The court shall cause a copy of such order to be served upon each supervisor or member of the council, as the case may be.B\n\nUpon the entry of such order, as provided in subsection A hereof, the chief judge of the circuit shall forthwith notify the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the entry thereof. Upon receipt of the notice, the Chief Justice shall assign a judge of a circuit remote from the circuit wherein the repairs are alleged to be necessary to hear and determine whether, after consideration of such matters as set forth in subdivisions 1 through 4, the court facilities are in fact insecure or out of repair or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of court employees or the public and the extent to which repairs, if any, are necessary.\n\t\t\tBefore a mandamus is issued, if the concerned governing body elects, or if the pleadings allege that the court facilities are in fact insecure or out of repair, or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of court employees or the public, the local governing body shall appoint a five-member panel, three of whom shall be qualified by training and experience as either an architect or a professional engineer, not representing the same firms, to review the court facilities in question and make recommendations to the local governing body and circuit court judge assigned by the Chief Justice concerning the construction or repairs deemed necessary.\n\t\t\tIn making their recommendations, the panel shall consider matters such as, but not limited to, the following:1\n\nSecurity provisions to safeguard court personnel, participants and the public;2\n\nEfficient layout and circulation patterns to maximize public access, promote efficient operations, and accommodate the diverse users;3\n\nProvision of administrative and service areas, judges&#8217; chambers, hearing rooms, conference rooms, prison holding areas, and public information areas; and4\n\nComfort, safety and obsolescence of the existing facility or any part thereof.\n\t\t\t\tThe existing facilities shall be considered in relationship to their location and the extent of their use, and their failure to meet any of these general considerations shall not necessarily be deemed a cause for determining them inadequate.\n\t\t\t\tIn making their recommendations, the panel may consult recognized national standard works in the field.\n\t\t\t\tAll costs, fees and expenses of the five-member panel, after approval by the local governing body, shall be paid by the county or city that appointed the panel.C\n\nIf, after hearing, the court finds that the court facilities are not insecure or out of repair or otherwise unsafe, or having been in such condition, that the necessary repairs have been made, the court shall vacate the order. If the court finds that the court facilities are insecure or out of repair or otherwise unsafe, it shall issue its mandamus as provided in subsection A.D\n\nAppeals shall be allowed to the Court of Appeals as appeals from courts of equity are allowed.E\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a circuit court to require that an additional or replacement courthouse be constructed.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":246502,"text":"When it appears to the circuit court for any county or city, from the report of persons appointed to examine the court facilities, or otherwise, that the court facilities of such county or city are insecure, out of repair, or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of court employees or the public, the court shall enter an order, in the name and on behalf of the Commonwealth against the supervisors of the county, or the members of the council of the city, as the case may be, to show cause why a mandamus should not issue, commanding them to cause the court facilities of such county or city to be made secure, or put in good repair, or rendered otherwise safe as the case may be, and to proceed as in other cases of mandamus, to cause the necessary work to be done. The court shall cause a copy of such order to be served upon each supervisor or member of the council, as the case may be.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":246503,"text":"Upon the entry of such order, as provided in subsection A hereof, the chief judge of the circuit shall forthwith notify the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the entry thereof. Upon receipt of the notice, the Chief Justice shall assign a judge of a circuit remote from the circuit wherein the repairs are alleged to be necessary to hear and determine whether, after consideration of such matters as set forth in subdivisions 1 through 4, the court facilities are in fact insecure or out of repair or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of court employees or the public and the extent to which repairs, if any, are necessary.\n\t\t\tBefore a mandamus is issued, if the concerned governing body elects, or if the pleadings allege that the court facilities are in fact insecure or out of repair, or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of court employees or the public, the local governing body shall appoint a five-member panel, three of whom shall be qualified by training and experience as either an architect or a professional engineer, not representing the same firms, to review the court facilities in question and make recommendations to the local governing body and circuit court judge assigned by the Chief Justice concerning the construction or repairs deemed necessary.\n\t\t\tIn making their recommendations, the panel shall consider matters such as, but not limited to, the following:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":246504,"text":"Security provisions to safeguard court personnel, participants and the public;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":246505,"text":"Efficient layout and circulation patterns to maximize public access, promote efficient operations, and accommodate the diverse users;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":246506,"text":"Provision of administrative and service areas, judges&#8217; chambers, hearing rooms, conference rooms, prison holding areas, and public information areas; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":246507,"text":"Comfort, safety and obsolescence of the existing facility or any part thereof.\n\t\t\t\tThe existing facilities shall be considered in relationship to their location and the extent of their use, and their failure to meet any of these general considerations shall not necessarily be deemed a cause for determining them inadequate.\n\t\t\t\tIn making their recommendations, the panel may consult recognized national standard works in the field.\n\t\t\t\tAll costs, fees and expenses of the five-member panel, after approval by the local governing body, shall be paid by the county or city that appointed the panel.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"C"},"6":{"id":246508,"text":"If, after hearing, the court finds that the court facilities are not insecure or out of repair or otherwise unsafe, or having been in such condition, that the necessary repairs have been made, the court shall vacate the order. If the court finds that the court facilities are insecure or out of repair or otherwise unsafe, it shall issue its mandamus as provided in subsection A.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"D"},"7":{"id":246509,"text":"Appeals shall be allowed to the Court of Appeals as appeals from courts of equity are allowed.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"8":{"id":246510,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a circuit court to require that an additional or replacement courthouse be constructed.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12878,"edition_id":1,"name":"Courthouses","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12877,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":153663,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12878,"identifier":"8","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8","url":"\/15.2\/II\/16\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12877,"edition_id":1,"name":"Local Constitutional Officers, Courthouses and Supplies","identifier":"16","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12733,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":153305,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12877,"identifier":"16","token":"15.2\/II\/16","url":"\/15.2\/II\/16\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12733,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Government","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12720,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":152369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12733,"identifier":"II","token":"15.2\/II","url":"\/15.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12720,"edition_id":1,"name":"Counties, Cities and Towns","identifier":"15.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":151279,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12720,"identifier":"15.2","token":"15.2","url":"\/15.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":54980,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1638","catch_line":"County or city governing body to provide courthouse, clerk's office, jail and suitable facilities for attorney for the Commonwealth; acquisition of land","url":"\/15.2-1638\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1638","metadata":false},{"id":77491,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1638.1","catch_line":"Administrative assistants in offices of circuit court judges who are employees of a locality","url":"\/15.2-1638.1\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1638.1","metadata":false},{"id":65943,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1639","catch_line":"Providing offices for various officers, judges, etc","url":"\/15.2-1639\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1639","metadata":false},{"id":54006,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1640","catch_line":"Renting rooms in courthouse","url":"\/15.2-1640\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1640","metadata":false},{"id":58374,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1641","catch_line":"Leasing or other use of other buildings","url":"\/15.2-1641\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1641","metadata":false},{"id":82120,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1642","catch_line":"Certain conveyances of courthouse grounds validated","url":"\/15.2-1642\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1642","metadata":false},{"id":68081,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1643","catch_line":"Circuit courts to order court facilities to be repaired","url":"\/15.2-1643\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1643","metadata":false},{"id":82935,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1644","catch_line":"Petition for removal of county courthouse; writ of election","url":"\/15.2-1644\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1644","metadata":false},{"id":69629,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1645","catch_line":"How election held and conducted","url":"\/15.2-1645\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1645","metadata":false},{"id":81736,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1646","catch_line":"Certification of result to board of supervisors; procuring land and buildings; relocation to contiguous or nearby land","url":"\/15.2-1646\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1646","metadata":false},{"id":74262,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1647","catch_line":"Removal of court","url":"\/15.2-1647\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1647","metadata":false},{"id":84668,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1648","catch_line":"Donation of land and money","url":"\/15.2-1648\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1648","metadata":false},{"id":84635,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1649","catch_line":"Town may issue bonds to finance donation; election on bonds","url":"\/15.2-1649\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1649","metadata":false},{"id":76544,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1650","catch_line":"When and how council to issue bonds; payment of interest; sinking fund","url":"\/15.2-1650\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1650","metadata":false},{"id":85541,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1651","catch_line":"When supervisors may issue bonds of county","url":"\/15.2-1651\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1651","metadata":false},{"id":84384,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1652","catch_line":"Form of ballots for county election on removal and appropriation; certificate of electoral board","url":"\/15.2-1652\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1652","metadata":false},{"id":81259,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1653","catch_line":"Ascertaining results","url":"\/15.2-1653\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1653","metadata":false},{"id":63752,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1654","catch_line":"Contest of election","url":"\/15.2-1654\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1654","metadata":false},{"id":58199,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1655","catch_line":"No other election held for ten years","url":"\/15.2-1655\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1655","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":82120,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1642","catch_line":"Certain conveyances of courthouse grounds validated","url":"\/15.2-1642\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1642","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":82935,"structure_id":12878,"section_number":"15.2-1644","catch_line":"Petition for removal of county courthouse; writ of election","url":"\/15.2-1644\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1644","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/15.2-1643\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 623; in 1975, chapter 444; in 1979, chapter 507; in 1997, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0587\">587<\/a>; in 2002, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?021+ful+CHAP0758\">758<\/a>; in 2012, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0805\">805<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0836\">836<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":84718,"section_number":"15.2-734","catch_line":"Purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of real property","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-734\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":153689,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68081,"identifier":"15.2-1643","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1643","url":"\/15.2-1643\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/15.2-1643\/","token":"15.2\/II\/16\/8\/15.2-1643","dublin_core":{"Title":"Circuit courts to order court facilities to be repaired","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 15.2-1643","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"A\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">A.<\/span> When it appears to the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> for any <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span>, from the report of persons appointed to examine the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> facilities, or otherwise, that the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> facilities of such <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> are insecure, out of repair, or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> employees or the public, the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> shall enter an <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span>, in the name and on behalf of the Commonwealth against the <span class=\"dictionary\">supervisors<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span>, or the members of the council of the <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span>, as the case may be, to show cause why a mandamus should not <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span>, commanding them to cause the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> facilities of such <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> to be made secure, or put in good repair, or rendered otherwise safe as the case may be, and to proceed as in other cases of mandamus, to cause the necessary work to be done. The <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> shall cause a copy of such <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span> to be served upon each <span class=\"dictionary\">supervisor<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">member of the council<\/span>, as the case may be. <a id=\"paragraph-246502\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1643\/#A\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">B.<\/span> Upon the entry of such <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span>, as provided in subsection A hereof, the <span class=\"dictionary\">chief judge<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> shall forthwith notify the Chief Justice of the Supreme <span class=\"dictionary\">Court<\/span> of the entry thereof. Upon receipt of the notice, the Chief Justice shall assign a judge of a <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> remote from the <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> wherein the repairs are alleged to be necessary to hear and determine whether, after consideration of such matters as set forth in subdivisions 1 through 4, the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> facilities are in <span class=\"dictionary\">fact<\/span> insecure or out of repair or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> employees or the public and the extent to which repairs, if any, are necessary.\n\t\t\tBefore a mandamus is issued, if the concerned <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> elects, or if the <span class=\"dictionary\">pleadings<\/span> allege that the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> facilities are in <span class=\"dictionary\">fact<\/span> insecure or out of repair, or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> employees or the public, the local <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> shall appoint a five-member <span class=\"dictionary\">panel<\/span>, three of whom shall be qualified by training and experience as either an architect or a professional engineer, not representing the same firms, to review the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> facilities in question and make recommendations to the local <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> and <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> judge assigned by the Chief Justice concerning the construction or repairs deemed necessary.\n\t\t\tIn making their recommendations, the <span class=\"dictionary\">panel<\/span> shall consider matters such as, but not limited to, the following: <a id=\"paragraph-246503\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1643\/#B\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B1\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">1.<\/span> Security provisions to safeguard <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> personnel, participants and the public; <a id=\"paragraph-246504\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1643\/#B1\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B2\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">2.<\/span> Efficient layout and circulation patterns to maximize public access, promote efficient operations, and accommodate the diverse users; <a id=\"paragraph-246505\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1643\/#B2\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B3\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">3.<\/span> Provision of administrative and service areas, <span class=\"dictionary\">judges<\/span>&#8217; <span class=\"dictionary\">chambers<\/span>, <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span> rooms, conference rooms, prison holding areas, and public information areas; and <a id=\"paragraph-246506\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1643\/#B3\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"B4\" class=\"indent-1\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">4.<\/span> Comfort, safety and obsolescence of the existing facility or any part thereof.\n\t\t\t\tThe existing facilities shall be considered in relationship to their location and the extent of their use, and their failure to meet any of these general considerations shall not necessarily be deemed a cause for determining them inadequate.\n\t\t\t\tIn making their recommendations, the <span class=\"dictionary\">panel<\/span> may consult recognized national standard works in the field.\n\t\t\t\tAll costs, fees and expenses of the five-member <span class=\"dictionary\">panel<\/span>, after approval by the local <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span>, shall be paid by the <span class=\"dictionary\">county<\/span> or <span class=\"dictionary\">city<\/span> that appointed the <span class=\"dictionary\">panel<\/span>. <a id=\"paragraph-246507\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1643\/#B4\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"C\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">C.<\/span> If, after <span class=\"dictionary\">hearing<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> finds that the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> facilities are not insecure or out of repair or otherwise unsafe, or having been in such condition, that the necessary repairs have been made, the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> shall vacate the <span class=\"dictionary\">order<\/span>. If the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> finds that the <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> facilities are insecure or out of repair or otherwise unsafe, it shall <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> its mandamus as provided in subsection A. <a id=\"paragraph-246508\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1643\/#C\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"D\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">D.<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">Appeals<\/span> shall be allowed to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Court<\/span> of <span class=\"dictionary\">Appeals<\/span> as <span class=\"dictionary\">appeals<\/span> from <span class=\"dictionary\">courts<\/span> of <span class=\"dictionary\">equity<\/span> are allowed. <a id=\"paragraph-246509\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1643\/#D\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section id=\"E\"><p><span class=\"prefix-number\">E.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a <span class=\"dictionary\">circuit<\/span> <span class=\"dictionary\">court<\/span> to require that an additional or replacement courthouse be constructed. <a id=\"paragraph-246510\" class=\"section-permalink\" href=\"https:\/\/vacode.org\/15.2-1643\/#E\"><i class=\"fa fa-link\"><\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCIRCUIT COURTS TO ORDER COURT FACILITIES TO BE REPAIRED (\u00a7 15.2-1643)\n\nA. When it appears to the circuit court for any county or city, from the report\nof persons appointed to examine the court facilities, or otherwise, that the\ncourt facilities of such county or city are insecure, out of repair, or\notherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of court employees or\nthe public, the court shall enter an order, in the name and on behalf of the\nCommonwealth against the supervisors of the county, or the members of the\ncouncil of the city, as the case may be, to show cause why a mandamus should not\nissue, commanding them to cause the court facilities of such county or city to\nbe made secure, or put in good repair, or rendered otherwise safe as the case\nmay be, and to proceed as in other cases of mandamus, to cause the necessary\nwork to be done. The court shall cause a copy of such order to be served upon\neach supervisor or member of the council, as the case may be.\n\nB. Upon the entry of such order, as provided in subsection A hereof, the chief\njudge of the circuit shall forthwith notify the Chief Justice of the Supreme\nCourt of the entry thereof. Upon receipt of the notice, the Chief Justice shall\nassign a judge of a circuit remote from the circuit wherein the repairs are\nalleged to be necessary to hear and determine whether, after consideration of\nsuch matters as set forth in subdivisions 1 through 4, the court facilities are\nin fact insecure or out of repair or otherwise pose a danger to the health,\nwelfare and safety of court employees or the public and the extent to which\nrepairs, if any, are necessary.\n\t\t\tBefore a mandamus is issued, if the concerned governing body elects, or if\nthe pleadings allege that the court facilities are in fact insecure or out of\nrepair, or otherwise pose a danger to the health, welfare and safety of court\nemployees or the public, the local governing body shall appoint a five-member\npanel, three of whom shall be qualified by training and experience as either an\narchitect or a professional engineer, not representing the same firms, to review\nthe court facilities in question and make recommendations to the local governing\nbody and circuit court judge assigned by the Chief Justice concerning the\nconstruction or repairs deemed necessary.\n\t\t\tIn making their recommendations, the panel shall consider matters such as,\nbut not limited to, the following:\n\n   1. Security provisions to safeguard court personnel, participants and the\n   public;\n\n   2. Efficient layout and circulation patterns to maximize public access,\n   promote efficient operations, and accommodate the diverse users;\n\n   3. Provision of administrative and service areas, judges&#8217; chambers,\n   hearing rooms, conference rooms, prison holding areas, and public information\n   areas; and\n\n   4. Comfort, safety and obsolescence of the existing facility or any part\n   thereof.\n   \t\t\t\tThe existing facilities shall be considered in relationship to their\n   location and the extent of their use, and their failure to meet any of these\n   general considerations shall not necessarily be deemed a cause for determining\n   them inadequate.\n   \t\t\t\tIn making their recommendations, the panel may consult recognized national\n   standard works in the field.\n   \t\t\t\tAll costs, fees and expenses of the five-member panel, after approval by\n   the local governing body, shall be paid by the county or city that appointed\n   the panel.\n\nC. If, after hearing, the court finds that the court facilities are not insecure\nor out of repair or otherwise unsafe, or having been in such condition, that the\nnecessary repairs have been made, the court shall vacate the order. If the court\nfinds that the court facilities are insecure or out of repair or otherwise\nunsafe, it shall issue its mandamus as provided in subsection A.\n\nD. Appeals shall be allowed to the Court of Appeals as appeals from courts of\nequity are allowed.\n\nE. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize a circuit court to\nrequire that an additional or replacement courthouse be constructed.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 15-693.1; 1962, c. 623, \u00a7 15.1-267; 1975, c. 444; 1979,\nc. 507; 1997, c. 587; 2002, c. 758; 2012, cc. 805, 836; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c.\n489.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}